D Srinivas Set To Join TRS

Speculations about former minister and PCC chief in undivided AP, Dharmapuri Srinivas, jumping the ship came true when he called on Chief Minister and TRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday and later confirmed that he was joining the TRS.

He and his son met KCR in the latter's camp office and closeted with him for quite some time. Emerging from the meeting, Srinivas refused to divulge details but stated that he would call for a press meet in a day or two and announce when he would formally join the TRS.

Earlier, before calling on KCR, he is understood to have sent his resignation letter to the Congress.

It may be mentioned here that Srinivas, as then APCC president, along with late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had played a crucial role in enabling the Congress to return to power in two successive general elections in the then united Andhra Pradesh. However, he has been nurturing a grouse against the Congress High Command for denying him an MLC ticket and instead selecting his junior.

To Start with, after his term in the Legislative Council ended, his post as leader of the Congress in the Upper House was entrusted to Shabbir Ali, which in itself was disturbing for Srinivas. Srinivas hoped that he would get his post back once he got re-elected as MLC. But as if to rub salt to injury, Srinivas was not only denied an MLC ticket, his junior was chosen as the party nominee. This turned out to be the proverbial last straw that made him cross over.

According to informed sources, KCR, during his discussions with Srinivas, is understood to have assured him either a Rajya Sabha ticket or an MLC seat, and suggested to him that he formally join the TRS at a public meeting being scheduled in Nizamabad on July 6 to be addressed by the Chief Minister.

The meeting of TRS Lok Sabha member B Vinod with CLP leader in the Assembly K Jana Reddy also raised many an eyebrow in political circles as it is rumoured that the senior Congress leader too is waiting in the wings to join the pink brigade. Speculation is also gaining ground that another Congress leader and former minister Danam Nagender too is waiting for an opportune time to desert the party in favour of the TRS, though he has been dismissing it as a figment of imagination of the media.

Similarly, actor-turned-politician Jayasudha embracing the pink party is not being ruled out. The presence of KCR at the audio release function of Jayasudha's son's film triggered off speculation in this regard. This is because KCR had not attended any audio release function of any movie until then, and attending the "Basthi" audio release thus led to many tongues wagging.

After the 2014 elections, so far as many as five legislators from the Congress and four from the TDP have already deserted their parties and joined the TRS. (NSS)