BRS MLA Danam Nagender may cross over to Congress, Chevella MP Ranjith Reddy likely

HYDERABAD: Migration of leaders from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) into the Congress is continuing. BRS MLA from Khairatabad Assembly constituency Danam Nagender on Friday called on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He is likely to join the Congress on Sunday. The initial “courtesy calls” would automatically translate into formal floor-crossing.

Nagender is a known political turncoat for several years. He had won the Assembly elections in 1994 and 1999 as a Congress candidate and again in 2004 as the TDP candidate from Asifnagar constituency. He, however, had resigned to seek a re-election on behalf of the Congress with an eye on a Cabinet berth in the YS Rajasekhara Reddy Government, but he lost the byelection.

He again won on behalf of the Congress in 2009 and he served as a minister in the Congress Governments between 2009 and 14, and lost the 2014 elections. Later, he joined the BRS (then TRS). He won the 2018 and 2023 Assembly elections on behalf of the BRS and is now nursing an ambition to move to the Congress.

Also Read: Khairatabad: Danam Nagender aims to latch on to high profile constituency

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is likely to meet Chevella MP Dr G Ranjith Reddy. He was elected the Chevella MP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections on behalf of the BRS and sailed with the party until recently. Though his candidacy was announced for the same constiyuency in t he upcoming Lok Sabha elections by the BRS, he suddenly decided to stay away from the BRS. He is likely to join the Congress which might field him as its nominee from the same Lok Sabha seat.

Interestingly Vikarabad Zilla Parishad chairperson Patnam Sunitha Mahender Reddy was already assured of the Congress ticket from Chevella. In fact, that was the promise due to which she and her husband and former minister Patnam Mahender Reddy joined the Congress, leaving the BRS. Mahender Reddy is an MLC in Telangana and was elected to the position by the BRS.

Gutha makes tongue-in-cheek remarks on Revanth Reddy

In another interesting development, Chairman of Telangana Legislative Council Gutha Sukhender Reddy made a tongue-in-cheek statement suggesting that Revanth Reddy’s governance was good. His son Amith Reddy was tipped of the MP ticket from Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat by the BRS. But, Amith withdrew from the race for the BRS tickets as three of the seven MLAs in Nalgonda Lok Sabha constituency were opposed to his candidature. Amith Reddy had called on the Chief Miniter a few days ago, triggering speculation that he might go adrift to the Congress from the BRS.

Though Sukhender Reddy tried to explain that the meeting was a result of his meeting with Chief Minister’s political advisor Vem Narender Reddy, who was a close relative (of Gutha family). He said that the people were feeling that Revanth Reddy’s administration was fine. “I am in a responsible constitutional position which had no political affiliations. Though Revanth Reddy is our relative, I am not meeting him anywhere except during the sessions of the Legislative Council. I don’t have to wear the scarf of any political party. Had the BRS announced the candidature of Amith Reddy for Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat three months ago, it would have been good,” said Sukhender Reddy.