Several Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders have alleged on the eve of counting of votes that the Congress is attempting “horse-trading” to lure TRS leaders seeking their support in the formation of the next government stating that both the People's Front and TRS are not going to get simple majority.
Former legislator and TRS contestant from Nagarkurnool Assembly Constituency Marri Janaradhan Reddy on Monday alleged that Chevella MP Konda Vishveshwar Reddy, who switched his loyalties to Congress from TRS during the third week of November, had called him over phone and asked him to support Congress to form the next government.
The TRS leader, however stated that he had rejected the offer outright stating that he is comfortable in TRS and that the party is going to win 80 to 90 Assembly seats.
Call recording
“I have received calls from Mr. Vishveshwar Reddy at 2.07 p.m. and 2.56 p.m. from phone number 9490861960, but I have suggested him not to call me again seeking support stating that the TRS is going to form the next government and such horse-trading is not expected from a person like him (Mr. Vishveshwar Reddy),” Mr. Janardhan Reddy explained replaying the call recording and messages exchanged between the two. Minister C. Laxma Reddy said Congress is resorting to lure the prospective winners of TRS after coming to a conclusion that it would not get majority seats. He demanded that the Congress stop such cheap politics as TRS is going to get majority seats.
Alleging that Mr. Vishveshwar Reddy was donning the role of junior Revanth Reddy, who was caught allegedly red-handed in the note-for-vote scam, MLC Karne Prabhakar said TRS would form the next government on its own.
Peddapalli MP Balka Suman, who contested the Assembly election from Chennur, said Congress would be swept away in the seats tsunami to be created by the TRS on Tuesday and questioned Mr. Vishveshwar Reddy what happened to the moral values on which he spoke while joining the Congress. Stating that “horse-trading” was started by Congress with the ill-gotten money being provided by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, V. Srinivas Goud said the TRS leaders would not succumb to such baits.
MP’s version
Meanwhile, responding to the TRS leaders' allegation Mr. Vishveshwar Reddy termed it as meaningless and said several old friends, including those in TRS, keep calling him regularly and as part of that about 30 leaders had spoken to him after the polling.
“There is no need for Congress to buy MLAs. The need is for TRS and that's why its strength has bolstered from 63 to 90 in the dissolved Assembly,” the Congress leader said adding that he would move legally if anybody tries to defame him like this.
