Kadiyam Srihari, daughter Kavya likely to join Congress in Delhi today

HYDERABAD: Former Deputy Chief Minister and Station Ghanpur BRS MLA Kadiyam Srihari and his daughter Dr Kavya will in all likelihood join the Congress on Friday (today, March 29).

They reportedly reached Delhi and would be calling on the top leadership.

In a major blow to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), party nominee from Warangal Lok Sabha seat Dr Kavya Kadiyam, daughter of former Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari dropped out of the contest.

Dr Kavya, in a letter addressed to BRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao,said that she preferred to withdraw from the contest.

“I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contest from Warangal on behalf of the BRS in the Lok Sabha elections to be held on May 13, 2024.

“Media reports in the last few days about the charges of corruption, land grabbing, phone tappings, and liquor scam have brought down the prestige and credibility of the party. Lack of coordination and working amongst them in silos in the district works to the detriment of the party.

“Against this background, I have decided to opt out of the contest. I request KCR garu, elders and senior party leaders to excuse me.”

Ironically, it’s only recently Kadiyam Srihari challenged Chief Minister Revanth Reddy who had talked about masculinity of the BRS leaders. Kadiyam Srihari asked if Revanth Reddy was masculine, why had he not won even a single Assembly segment under Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat which was hitherto represented by the Chief Minister.

Kadiyam Srihari was with the TDP for an along time and served in senior positions like Irrigation Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh. He joined the TRS and was elected as an MP from Warangal in 2014. However, after a year or so, KCR made him the Deputy Chief Minister by having him elected to the legislative council by making him resign as MP.

Srihari’s exit and the opting out of contest by his daughter Kavya indeed are a shocker to the BRS.