In a major setback to Bharat Rashtra Samithi in Telangana, its MLA from Chevella Kale Yadaiah joined the ruling Congress on Friday. Yadaiah joined the ruling party in the presence of Chief Minister and PCC president A Revanth Reddy, AICC incharge of party affairs in Telangana Deepa Dasmunsi and other leaders in Delhi, news agency PTI reported citing Congress.
Yadaiah is the sixth BRS MLA to switch over to Congress since the latter assumed power after the Legislative Assembly elections last year. Yadaiah switching loyalties came close on the heels of Jagtial MLA Sanjay Kumar joining the Congress on June 23. Earlier, BRS MLAs Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Kadiam Srihari, Danam Nagender and Tellam Venkat Rao joined the grand old party.
BRS leader slams Congress on defections
Taking exception to the BRS MLAs switching sides to Congress, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao on Monday said his party had seen similar defections in the past when the Congress was in power and that it had to eventually "bow down". However, Revanth Reddy, speaking to the media in Delhi on Thursday, attacked the BRS for encouraging defections when it was in power. "We have faced several defections of MLAs in the past in 2004-06 when Congress was in government. Telangana responded strongly by stepping up the people’s agitation & eventually Congress had to bow its head. History shall repeat itself," Rama Rao said on 'X'.
Telangana Assembly elections 2023
BRS had won 39 of the total 119 Assembly seats in the elections held last year, while Congress came to power with 64 seats. However, BRS MLA from Secunderabad Cantonment G Lasya Nanditha died in a road accident earlier this year. Congress won the recently held bypoll for Secunderabad Cantonment segment. This led to an increase in its strength to 65.
(With PTI inputs)
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