It looks like a season of defections in Telangana. More and more MLAs from the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party are evincing interest in joining the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, obviously to get benefits of the power.
On Tuesday, it was the turn of Congress MLA from Khamma P Ajay Kumar. He called on Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at the State Secretariat requesting him to develop Khammam as the 'Smart City'. However, the actual purpose of the visit is said to be sending feelers to the TRS chief to join the latter’s party.
Speaking to media persons later, Ajay Kumar said that KCR has promised to recommend to the Centre to develop Khammam as 'Smart City'.
He said he had earlier met Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu with the same request. However, the Union Minister asked him to approach KCR as the State Government needs to make the recommendation for the 'Smart City' project.
He said KCR has assured him that besides Khammam, three other cities - Warangal, Karimnagar and Nizamabad towns would be recommended for inclusion in 'Smart City' projects.
Ajay Kumar said KCR was keen on developing Khammam due to its close proximity with Bhadrachalam which witnesses arrival of thousands of devotees.
