I am joining the BJP not for my political future but for the development of Telangana state," said Goud, who quit the TRS on 14 October.
Published Oct 17, 2022 | 3:16 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 17, 2022 | 3:18 PM
Boora Narsaiah Goud. (Supplied)
It is now official! Former TRS MP and Backward Class (BC) leader Boora Narsaiah Goud will join the BJP in Delhi on Wednesday, 19 October, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda.
This, meanwhile, jolted the TRS into action as it sought to retain its BC leaders, especially in the run-up to the Mubugode Assembly bypoll.
The former MP, who resigned from the TRS on 14 October as he did not want to “remain a slave” to Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, made the announcement on Monday after BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar, former MP A Jitender Reddy, and others met him and welcomed him into the party fold.
“I feel as though it is like a homecoming because I could see all those who were active in the Telangana movement in the BJP. Even when I was a TRS MP, I used to meet Central ministers because my aim was the development of my Bhongir constituency, and to help my fellow caste men who are being meted out a raw deal under KCR’s dispensation,” he said.
He exuded confidence that the BJP would come to power in Telangana.
“I am joining the BJP not for my political future but for the development of Telangana state,” he said.
“In the TRS, if one has to meet the chief minister, one has to launch a movement,” he added, pointing out that he liked the BJP’s slogan “sab ka saath, sab ka vikas”, as that is what he felt in his heart.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar took potshots at KCR, claiming he had surrounded himself with Telangana betrayers while all the genuine Telangana movement leaders were now in the BJP.
“After Narsaiah Goud joins the BJP, our party’s prospects of victory in the ensuing Munogode by-election will brighten further,” he said.
After Narsaiah Goud’s exit, the TRS leadership sat bolt-upright and managed to retain former MLC Karne Prabhakar — another BC leader — from switching to the BJP.
He was persuaded to stay with the TRS with a promise to send him to the Legislative Council once again as the BCs constitute a large chunk of the electorate in the Munugode Assembly constituency — approximately half of the 2.4 lakh voters — according to the final list of voters.
After Narasiah Goud left, the TRS leaders are now trying to protect the Gouda vote bank, and have accordingly deployed leaders asking them to promise everything under the sky.
As the TRS began implementing the new strategy, it is facing bitter experiences, too.
When Labour Minister Ch Malla Reddy was visiting the Choutuppal mandal, Goudas gathered around him and demanded payment of the ₹10 lakh that he had promised for the construction of a temple in the village.
In fact, when Malla Reddy visited them earlier, he gave them ₹2 lakh, but the Goudas almost gheraoed him when he went to the village on Sunday.
They demanded payment of the balance amount then and there, as they knew all politicians would disappear once the election was over.
Malla Reddy, with effort, managed to force his way to his vehicle and leave the village.
