On Friday, the BRS faced a second setback in as many days as another one of its MPs, B.B. Patil, representing the Zaheerabad Lok Sabha constituency, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Patil becomes the second BRS MP to join the BJP, following P. Ramulu, who represents Nagarkurnool in the Lok Sabha.
Earlier, on February 6, Dr B. Venkatesh Neta, the BRS MP from Peddapalli, had joined the Congress.
Welcoming the Zaheerabad MP into the BJP fold were Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, party General Secretary Tarun Chugh, and BJP Parliamentary Board member and MP Dr K. Laxman in New Delhi.
Patil stated that he decided to join the BJP to ensure that the Zaheerabad constituency receives the development it deserves, which he believes is possible under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Speaking to reporters, Patil praised Modi for his vision for India's development, highlighting the significant strides made during his tenure.
He hailed Modi as the most trusted leader globally and commended the government's actions, including the construction of the Ram temple, the revocation of Article 370, the prohibition of triple talaq, and the distribution of free Covid vaccines.
Patil emphasized that joining the BJP was crucial for the development of his parliamentary constituency and Telangana state, as it would facilitate access to funds and support from the central government. He expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Modi government.
The departure of three BRS MPs coincides with the party's struggle to find candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Reportedly, senior party leaders such as party chief K. Chandrashekar Rao, working president K.T. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao, and K. Kavitha have shown reluctance to contest in the Lok Sabha elections.
