The Telugu Desam Party's corporator Raja Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday.
Raja Singh's entry into the BJP was formalised by BJP state president G Kishan Reddy, in the presence of senior leaders including Bangaru Laxman and Bandaru Dattatreyya.
The Mangalhaat corporator has been a controversial figure due to his alleged anti-Muslim speeches in the last few years.
Several TDP leaders, including politburo member and Siasat editor Zahid Ali Khan, ex-MLC Ibrahim Bin Abdullah Masqati, MLC Mohammad Saleem and former corporator Muzaffar Ali Khan, had made representations to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, seeking Raja Singh's expulsion from the party. They had alleged that Raja Singh's activities were posing threats to the secular image of the Telugu Desam Party.
Although there were reports since 2010 that Raja Singh might join the BJP, his formal joining was delayed for several reasons. However, on Sunday, he finally did formally join the BJP. (INN)