Nalgonda: As if 12 MLAs jumping ship to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) wasn’t enough for the Telangana Congress, another MLA has hinted at leaving the party for the BJP.

Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy expressed disappointment with the party and stated that it was not able to effectively take on the ruling TRS in the state.

He further went on to say that the BJP is the only alternative to the TRS and, expressed certainty in saying that Congress is not.

Also read: Telangana Congress to move high court over MLAs’ defection; TRS says ‘serve people first’

Rajgopal Reddy was in Nalgonda to participate in a meeting with the people ousted from the Dindi project. While addressing reporters, he said, “The condition of Telangana Congress is pitiable. As many as 12 of its MLAs have joined TRS already.”

He was referring to the 12 Congress MLAs who had defected to the TRS, effectively bringing the Congress’ tally in the Assembly to just six. These MLAs were recently merged with the TRS legislative party as well.

For a while now, reports have been doing the rounds that Reddy would be leaving the Congress but there was no clarity. However, Reddy has made his intentions known to the public. “There is no future for the Congress in Telangana,” he declared.

Also read: Telangana Congress’s Krishank Manne quits, sets party flag on fire

The Munugode MLA blamed Congress’ leadership defeat in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Reddy had blamed TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy and AICC state in-charge RC Khuntia for the party’s downfall.

“BJP is the only alternative to the TRS. Only the BJP can face the TRS at the grassroots level. This is why so many leaders are joining the BJP, so that they may fight KCR’s (K Chandrashekar Rao) family rule in the state,” he said.

Krishank Manne, who was with the Congress, had recently joined the TRS. Manne told MyNation, “The Congress had earlier been harping that the TRS had ‘purchased’ the MLAs. But now, there are MLAs joining other parties as well. They need to look within, instead of blaming others.”

BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao said, “The Congress is a sinking ship, that’s why even senior most leaders in the party are quitting.”

Rao added that the recent defections from the Congress to the TRS, is proof enough to show how the Congress is struggling to keep its flock together. “The BJP doesn’t support the defection, but the Congress’s incapability was out for all to see,” stated Rao.

Rao further added that there is a good chance that Rajgopal Reddy would join the BJP and the party would welcome him. “Anyone who is willing to serve the people with our ideology and within the framework of our leadership, are welcome to join the BJP,” said Rao.

Rajgopal Reddy was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bhongir in 2009 and lost the seat in 2014. In 2018, he was elected to the Assembly. His brother Venkat Reddy, served as Nalgonda MLA between 1999 and 2018 and is now  MP from Bhongir.