The resignation of Kodangal MLA A. Revanth Reddy from Telugu Desam and his subsequent joining in Congress has picked up hectic activity in all parties without exception as they wooed new members to show that they were not behind.
Take TRS, it has already roped in Kodangal Mandal Praja Parishad (MPP) president Dayakar Reddy of Telugu Desam and two other MPP presidents and a Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency member of Kosgi and Maddur mandals in the same constituency. The party was now focussed on rolling out the red carpet for leaders in Daulatabad and Bomraspet, the two other mandals in the constituency.
While confusion among grassroots level political leaders following the sudden exit of Mr. Reddy from TDP was cited as one reason for them to look for greener pastures, the TRS leadership was said to have put in a “serious” effort to convince them to join the party leader, as one leader explained. He said the leaders were quick to grasp that Mr. Reddy left to emerge as a bigger leader. “Why should we not look for our own ways?”
The survival instinct of leaders in the changed circumstances and a feeling that they could not continue in Telugu Desam as its days were over drew them to TRS, he added. None of them nursed higher hopes of becoming legislators as they were aware that they were cut up for posts at mandal-level.
The TRS also convinced the Congress leaders that the revival of the latter party was not possible in this term of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. It was not only in Kodangal but elsewhere in the State that the party resorted to the tactic. That was how Kataram ZPTC Challa Narayan Reddy of Congress in Bhoopalpally district was drawn to TRS.
The Telangana TDP president L. Ramana feels nothing was lost for the party by the resignation Mr. Reddy as 80 per cent of its members were genuinely committed. The party will explain to the public that it will fight TRS on one side and Congress on the other. The TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s call that the party take the middle route will be implemented in letter and spirit. Mr. Ramana said a few former MLAs were in touch to join the party. The BJP was also not found wanting in inviting new members in the background of Mr. Revanth Reddy episode. Its State president K. Laxman said the BJP tried to attract people telling them that the political system will not change if a few leaders changed parties.
