Danam vehemently denies joining TRS

Hyderabad: Speculations in political circles are rife that former Congress minister and Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee president Danam Nagender might join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi on Monday, despite his open denial to join the ruling party.

According to sources, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has invited Danam for a breakfast meeting on Monday. A few hours later, he is likely to formally join the TRS along with 10 ex-Corporators of Congress party. The TRS has reportedly offered him the post of TSRTC Chairman.

Several dramatic scenes were witnessed at Danam's residence on Friday. While Danam held a meeting with his supporters at his residence to decide the future course of action, Leader of Opposition in Council and Incharge of Hyderabad Congress Mohammed Ali Shabbir met Danam seeking clarification on the rumours.

He also consulted AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh over phone and made Danam speak to him on the issue. Later, both of them addressed a joint press conference.

When media questioned him about his parleys with TRS leader D Srinivas, he retorted saying, "Do you have any proof that I met him?"

While Danam skipped questions related to rumours of his entry into TRS, Shabbir Ali maintained that Danam was not leaving the Congress Party and baseless rumours were being spread by some vested elements. He said that Danam and his cadre had actively participated in 95 per cent of the city programmes and that he was a hardcore Congress worker and would not change loyalties. He said Danam had always been in the forefront in fighting the AIMIM as well.