Former Anantapur MP and TDP leader J C Diwakar Reddy today said that the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 had caused immense damage to the Congress, and had played a great role in weakening the party significantly in both the Telugu-speaking states.
At a meeting with several leaders of the Congress unit in Telangana, including Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, T Jeevan Reddy and Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, he said, "I had forewarned then-Congress president Sonia Gandhi that the division of Andhra Pradesh would cause huge harm to the party. But, I was opposed by many of my contemporaries who were supporting the bifurcation as it would allow them to secure narrow personal gains. It is now clearer than ever that the creation of Rayala Telangana is what would have allowed the Congress to retain power forever. The creation of Telangana, on the other hand, has hurt many people,"
"It is unfortunate that India's grand old party has lost its sheen, and no longer enjoys the mass support it once did. Its repeated losses in elections across the country is also saddening. I joined a regional party as there was no way I could work for the people by joining a national party," he added.
The former MP then told Telangana's Congress leaders that the party would never be strong enough to defeat Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.
His comments come right after former Congress MP from Chevella, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy announced yesterday that he would be taking a
three-month-long break from politics. Many in Telangana's political circles suspect the break to be a harbinger of his intention to defect to the BJP soon.