Congress entry: Revanth claims positive response, Ponguleti promises decision soon

HYDERABAD: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A Revanth Reddy has said that former MP Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy responded positively to joining the Congress party. After meeting Jupally Krishna Rao, a team of TPCC leaders led by Revanth Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy also visited the house of former MP Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy in Hyderabad and extended a similar invitation to him to join the grand old party.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Revanth Reddy said that a public meeting would be held soon in Khammam, which could be regarded as the maiden electioneering meeting of the Congress party for the coming polls in the State. The TPCC Chief said that they had invited Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy in tune with the aspirations of the four crore people in Telangana.

‘’We are appealing to the people of Telangana to bestow power to Congress which, he said, fulfilled the decades-long dream of a separate Telangana,” Revanth Reddy said. He also demanded that KCR withdraw the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UPA) case against Telangana folk singer Vimalakka. Revanth Reddy said that the late Prof. Jayashankar aspired for the formation of the Telangana State and was revered as the Telangana Ideologue by the four-crore people. However, the State did not witness the desired results after its formation, he claimed.

Revanth Reddy alleged that KCR and his family had exploited the resources in Telangana and benefited hugely from it. A meeting would be held soon with All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikharjuna Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to discuss the current political scenario in the State and on the conduct of a huge public meeting in Khammam, the TPCC president said.

Announcement in 3-4 days, says Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy

Meanwhile, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said that Revanth Reddy had invited him to join the Congress party. Deliberations were already held with poets and those who played a proactive role in the Telangana movement. He said that an announcement would be made in the next three or four days on the issue of joining a party.

"For the last six months, I and Jupally Krishna Rao have been observing the political developments in the State. The aspirations of the people were not realised after the formation of a separate Telangana," Srinivasa Reddy said.