MLA Konda Surekha denies joining Congress

Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLA Konda Surekha is likely to join the Congress Party and Telangana PCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said that she was in touch with him.

Speaking to the media informally here in the Assembly lobby on Friday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that Surekha has expressed her intention to join the Congress if she was not given a berth in the State cabinet. She has asked two MLA seats in the next elections and Congress was ready to give one, through a leader of Warangal district, he added.

However, Surekha has condemned the reports and reiterated that she would remain with ruling party at any cost and accused Uttam Kumar Reddy of spreading rumours and falsehood only to create confusion among her followers and also in the ruling TRS.

The issue has created a sensation in State politics as Surekha’s joining the Congress would lead to serious developments. If she joins, it would be one more boost to the Congress after admitting A Revanth Reddy into the party fold recently.

According to Congress sources, Konda Surekha was disgruntled and in despair and wants to leave the ruling party. Even though she has been elected several times to the Assembly, she was not given much importance in the party. Her name has not been considered to be included in the State Cabinet as a woman leader or as a leader from the Backward Classes.

Congressmen said that Surekha’s readiness to join the Congress was a result of the silent efforts being made by the Congress to improve the party’s political prospects. The party leaders have put an eye on the disgruntled leaders in the ruling party and have been inviting them to Congress.

Along with Surekha, the Congress is also expecting minister A Indrakaran Reddy’s return to the party fold. If he agrees to join the party, one more ruling party MLA Koneru Konappa may also come to the Congress side.

A few Congress leaders said that former Minister and BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy was also willing to join the Congress party to improve his prospects in State politics. On the other hand, political observers said that with the entry of A Revanth Reddy into the Congress, the political equations in the State were undergoing changes. Several disgruntled ruling party leaders, leaders of Telugu Desam and BJP have been contemplating to join the Congress.

The TRS MLA however said that she and her family are not going to leave TRS. She said that former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy gave them political entry and Present Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao gave political re-birth. There is no question of leaving the party. These are political conspiracies and these are the mind games by the Congress party leaders, she added. "We will be in TRS until our followers are with us," she added.