The ruling Congress party is all set to receive a major jolt in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
After the exit of its floor leader Kaleru Venkatesh on December 21, at least three more Congress corporators are likely to join the YSR Congress party. However, the most shocking part for the Congress is these corporators represent the divisions that fall in the Khairtabad Assembly segment being represented by Labour Minister and Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee president Danam Nagender.
According to sources, the Congress corporators from Khairtabad constituency were being motivated to join the YSRCP by P Vijetha Reddy, daughter of former CLP leader P Janardhan Reddy. She has reportedly convinced at least three Congress corporators who might join the YSRCP within a week.
It may be mentioned that Vijetha Reddy was denied a Congress ticket in 2009 elections. Later, she joined the YSR Congress party and has been working hard to strengthen her base in Khairtabad, a constituency that was once represented by her late father till his death. Although Vijetha’s brother Vishnu Vardhan Reddy got elected from Khairtabad in the by-elections, he switched to Jubilee Hills in 2009 General Elections. However, Vijetha staked her claim and tried in vain to get Congress ticket for Khairtabad seat.
Following delimitation of constituencies, Nagender shifted from Nampally (Asifnagar) to Khairtabad in 2009 and therefore, Vijetha’s dream to get ticket for Khairabad seat got shattered. However, while continuing her pursuit, she joined the YSR Congress party and has been targeting the base of Danam Nagender.
So far, seven Congress corporators including the GHMC floor leader have joined the YSRCP providing a strong base for the party in the twin cities. One TDP corporator has also joined the YSRCP.
Although there were rumours on Tuesday that Banjara Hills corporator B Bharathi would be joining the YSR Congress party, when contacted, she out rightly denied the reports. She said the reports were baseless and far from truth.
–Agencies