As expected, former MP from Khammam Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and former minister Jupally Krishna Rao have announced joining the Congress party soon.
On Monday, Ponguleti and Jupally met All India Congress Committee president Mallikharjun Kharge and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi and held discussions with them, before declaring that they would be joining the party.
While Ponguleti said he would be formally joining the Congress party in the presence of Rahul Gandhi at a public rally in Khammam on July 2, Jupally announced that he would be joining the party at a public meeting to be held at Mahabubnagar on July 14 or 15.
Sources said during the discussions, Ponguleti reportedly asked the high command to give him freedom in the selection of candidates in Khammam. He even reportedly offered to bear the election expenses of the party in the district, if he is given a say in the candidates’ selection.
Even in the neighbouring Nalgonda district, Ponguleti has agreed to take care of the party’s campaign expenditure.
Apparently, Telangana PCC president A Revanth Reddy played a key role in convincing the high command about the need to bring Ponguleti into the party and agreed to certain conditions he had put in.
According to sources, Revanth Reddy wants to checkmate Congress Legislature Party leader Bhatti Vikramarka, who is claiming to be the next chief minister of Telangana. Bhatti also hails from Khammam and he wants his men to be given tickets in the district to hold supremacy in the party.
Similarly, in Nalgonda district, Uttam Kumar Reddy is creating troubles for Revanth Reddy. In a bid to cut him to size, Revanth Reddy patched up with Komatireddy brothers. Now with Ponguleti joining hands with him, Uttam will not have much say in Nalgonda, sources said.
Another senior BRS leader and legislative council member from Nagarkurnool district K Damodar Reddy was also present at the meeting of the former MP and former minister with the Congress high command. He is also expected to join the party along with Krishna Rao at the Mahabubnagar meeting.
