TRS poaches more Opposition leaders

TDP MLA Sayanna and Congress MLC M S Prabhakar take shelter in TRS

Hyderabad: The battle of baldia seems to be intensifying. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which does not have any representation in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) as of now, is now trying hard to ensure that the war becomes almost one sided.

As part of this strategy, the TRS has resorted to poaching of city leaders from Opposition parties including the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). The biggest shock was for the TDP as its MLA G Sayanna from Secunderabad Cantonment Assembly constituency joined the TRS in the presence of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao at the latter’s camp office here.

Though the TDP leaders who earlier claimed that the poaching would not affect the morale of the rank and file, admitted that it was least expected that Sayanna would quit the party. It may be mentioned here that Sayanna was recently appointed as the member of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).

Reacting to the exit of Sayanna, general secretary of the TDP national committee Nara Lokesh told The Hans India that this would no way dent the party image. He said people were smart and would understand the silly game of the TRS. “If the TRS had the guts, it should have made him resign his Assembly seat before admitting him.” Sayanna said he had no issues with the TDP and had joined the TRS only to see that his constituency developed fast. He said he was attracted by schemes like double bedroom for poor etc launched by the TRS government.Congress MLC M S Prabhakar also joined the TRS.

The pink party claims that some more MLAs are also likely to join before the GHMC polls. The names that are making rounds are that of Farooq Hussain from Medak district and M Ranga Reddy from Ranga Reddy district.

Prabhakar said he felt neglected in the Congress. His suggestions on strengthening of the party in Greater Hyderabad were never considered by the party high command as well as the TPCC. He was not consulted about the ensuing GHMC elections. He said he would strive for the victory of the TRS in the civic body election.

With the joining of Sayanna, the strength of the TRS in the 119-member Legislative Assembly went up to 77. He is the sixth TDP MLA to resign after 2014 general elections. Prabhakar is the eight MLC from the Congress joined the TRS.

There were intense speculations that even Danam Nagender and Mukhesh Goud from the city and senior Congress leader J Geeta Reddy would also join the party. But Geeta Reddy said it was part of mind game being played by the TRS to create confusion among the rank and file in Congress. She said she had been in the Opposition in the past as well and was not power hungry.