Former MP G Vivek switched left to join the Congress, but the BJP won over sitting BRS MLA Rathod Babu Rao, and some Congressmen.
Published Nov 01, 2023 | 8:48 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 01, 2023 | 8:48 PM
G Vivek Venkataswamy. (Instagram)
In a blow to the BJP in Telangana ahead of the 30 November state Assembly polls, former MP G Vivek Venkatswamy joined the Congress.
As dark clouds of despondency began hovering over the BJP’s office in Hyderabad, BRS MLA Rathod Babu Rao came walking in, to join the saffron party.
The BJP leaders have been watching with growing horror since former MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy left the party and Vivek delivered another blow by joining the Congress in the presence of party MP Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad on Wednesday, 1 November.
In his brief resignation letter addressed to Union Tourism Minister and Telangana BJP state president G Kishan Reddy, Vivek said, “With a heavy heart, I tender my resignation from the BJP. Thank you for your support during my tenure.”
Vivek’s decision is a setback for the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections. As a senior party leader, he played a crucial role during by-elections in the Dubbaka, Huzurabad, and Munugode Assembly constituencies. While the BJP won Dubbaka and Huzurabad constituencies, it lost it Munugode.
Vivek went to Novotel Hotel, where Rahul Gandhi has been staying since Tuesday to address rallies and public meetings as part of the election campaign in the state, and joined the Congress.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A Revanth Reddy was also present on the occasion.
Vivek has been dilly-dallying for the last few months about whether to quit the BJP and join the Congress. There were also rumours that he might return to the BRS.
However, on Wednesday, he quit the BJP and joined the Congress after getting an assurance from the party high command that either he or his son Vamshi would be given a chance to contest from Chennur Assembly constituency on the grand old party’s ticket.
Earlier, Vivek was in Congress before joining the BRS. After the BRS denied him a ticket during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he joined the BJP.
A few days ago, Rajagopal Reddy quit the BJP and joined the Congress in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi after which the party high command allotted Munugode Assembly constituency ticket to him.
But, warming the cockles of the BJP leaders, BRS Boath sitting MLA Rathod Bapu Rao joined the party in the presence of state president Kishan Reddy in New Delhi.
Apart from Bapu Rao from Adilabad district, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) general secretary Ch Krishna Reddy from Munugode, and senior Congress leader from Yellareddy Assembly constituency Subash Reddy and others also joined the party.
The case of the BRS MLA Rathod Babu Rao is interesting. He was miffed when the BRS announced Anil Jadhav for Boath and joined the Congress in anticipation of ticket for the constituency.
But Congress allotted Boath ticket to Vennela Ashok.
Crestfallen, Bapu Rao has now joined the BJP — but he will not be getting the Boath ticket as the BJP has already said Adilabad MP Soyam Bapu Rao (Adivasi) will contest the seat.
Even then, Rathod Bapu Rao has joined the BJP in anticipation of ticket for the Adilabad Lok Sabha seat in the Parlioament elections next year.
Speaking on the occasion, Kishan Reddy said Bapu Rao joining the BJP indicates that the party was becoming stronger in Adilabad and urged the people to teach a lesson to the ruling party which was not in a position to pay salaries to the government on the first day every month.
Within a few weeks after coming to power in Karnataka, the state government failed to implement promises made during elections, and the BRS was once again attempting to deceive people with false promises. Within five months after coming to power in Telangana, the Congress would collect Telangana Election Tax from the industrialists and the same would be used for contesting elections, he said.
In related party development, BJP national vice-president DK Aruna decided to stay away from contesting elections this time.
A candidate from the Backward Classes (BC) community would be given a ticket instead of Aruna. Kishan Reddy, Rajya Sabha member K Laxman, and former MP Konda Visweshwar Reddy also decided not to contest the Assembly elections.
