Elder Komatireddy may follow brother, double whammy to Congress

HYDERABAD: The storm raged in the Telangana Congress party with the exit of Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy is likely to turn into a cauldron, if the indications emerging from the erstwhile combined Nalgonda district are true.

Rajgopal Reddy's resignation opened the doors for a possible by-election to his Munugodu Assembly constituency. Even as the Congress party is bracing for it, along with the ruling TRS and the BJP, the problems for the grand-old party are only likely to precipitate in the district. There is intense speculation that sooner or later, Rajgopal Reddy's brother, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, too would troop into the saffron party with his supporters. A strong section of the party in the combined Nalgonda district is fearful of this eventuality as Venkat Reddy too is unhappy and feeling suffocated ever since Revanth Reddy was made the TPCC chief.

It will be a double blow for the Congress if Venkat Reddy too follows in the footsteps of his brother, which is certain to upset the apple cart of the party in at least six Assembly segments in the combined district, they feel.

The group of the local leaders were reported to have already conveyed their concerns to AICC General Secretary Venugopal and have even given a ground report on the damage assessment in the wake of Rajgopal Reddy's resignation. They have reportedly appealed to the AICC leader to quickly initiate fire-fighting measures to placate Venkat Reddy and ensure that the party suffers no further damage in the district.