In the first sign of trouble for the ruling Congress in the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections, former Minister J. C. Diwakar Reddy has decided to enter the fray.
Even before the Congress could finalise the candidates for elections to the Upper House, 11 ruling party MLAs are backing Mr. Diwakar Reddy. Sources said when the Congress Legislature Party staff went round the Assembly lobbies asking the party MLAs to append their signature to blank nomination forms in favour of party candidates, Mr. Diwakar Reddy declined to do so. He was seen going around meeting Congress MLAs, including some from Telangana and those from the MIM.
It is understood that Congress MLAs -- Ugra Narasimha Reddy, Vanga Geetha, Raja Ashok Babu, Bandaru Satyananda Rao, Pantham Gandhi Mohan and Yellamanchili Ravi -- are among the signatories.
ADVERTISEMENT
Interestingly, it was Mr. Diwakar Reddy, who had hinted that there could be an independent candidate in the fray and that money power and horse trading would be the order of the day.
A curious twist to his rebellion is the support extended to him by MLAs of the erstwhile Praja Rajyam.
ADVERTISEMENT
A majority of these MLAs have decided to ditch the Congress after the bifurcation process is completed and some held a meeting on January 21 (Tuesday) when they reportedly resolved to oppose the official party candidates.
It may be mentioned here that Mr. Diwakar Reddy is sore with the high command for its decision to bifurcate the State.
He levelled allegations against party president Sonia Gandhi and demanded that she step down after the party’s debacle in the recent Assembly elections. The high command served him a show cause notice for his statement.