TPCC expels BJP-bound Marri Shashidhar Reddy for six years

HYDERABAD: Senior Congress leader in Telangana Marri Shashidhar Reddy was on Saturday expelled from the party for a period of six years. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) cracked the whip on the senior leader for what it described as his 'anti-party activities'.

The punitive action came a day after Shashidhar Reddy met BJP strongman and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and expressed his wish to join the saffron party soon. Shashidhar Reddy, the son of Marri Channa Reddy, former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, had been in political oblivion, unable to find a foothold in the TPCC under the leadership of its chief Revanth Reddy. He was also said to be feeling suffocated due to his cold ties with the TPCC chief.

The TPCC action apparently came as part of a determined effort to ensure the senior leader did not get an exit at his own terms from the party. The expulsion order was issued in the name of Dr G Chinna Reddy, Chairman of the TPCC disciplinary action committee (DAC). The DAC chairman, in the order, referred to Shashidhar Reddy's meeting with Amith Shah on Friday along with BJP state unit president Bandi Sanjay and BJP national vice-president DK Aruna. He also took exception to Shashidhar Reddy's comments against Revanth Reddy on Saturday.

"Keeping in view of the tendency of the situation and anti-party activities of Shri M Shashidhar Reddy, the DAC of TPCC, has taken a decision to expel him from the Congress party for a period of six years. Hence, he is expelled from the Congress party with immediate effect and it is sent to AICC for ratification," the order read.

Shashidhar Reddy, ended prolonged speculation on his political future on Friday when he met Amit Shah in Delhi. The development came close on the heels of the BJP strongman's earlier meeting with Huzurabad MLA Etala Rajender on Thursday. When Shashidhar Reddy's topic was broached, Amit Shah reportedly discussed the matter with Rajender and immediately gave his green signal for his entry into the BJP. Without wasting any time, the former Sanathnagar MLA met the Union Home Minister and reportedly shared his knowledge and information on several issues pertaining to the state.

The intrepidity in Shashidhar Reddy's tone when speaking to the media after emerging out of the meeting with Amit Shah gave enough indications that it was only a matter of time before he joined the BJP. As expected, he revealed his desire to join the BJP very soon. Known as a gentle, soft-spoken person, Shashidhar Reddy however minced no words in criticisinig the Congress party and the style of functioning of Revanth Reddy.

He said that the Congress party had become cancerous and alleged that the TPCC was fast moving towards a complete doom and gloom ever since Revanth Reddy became its chief. He also levelled sensational allegations that Congress party's Telangana incharge Manickam Tagore had sold himself out to Revanth Reddy.