Former Speaker K R Suresh Reddy To Join TRS

Senior Congress leader and former Assembly Speaker K R Suresh Reddy on Friday announced his decision to join the TRS - not for any "political gains" but to be part of the "silent revolution" for the progress and development of Telangana, he claimed.

The development, at a time when the state is gearing up for elections after the Assembly was dissolved on Thursday, was the outcome of a meeting of IT Minister K T Rama Rao with Suresh Reddy at the latter's residence this morning.

Advisor to the state government G Vivekanand, and TRS nominees for the upcoming polls from the Armoor and Balkonda constituencies A Jeevan Reddy and Prashanth Reddy respectively, were also present during the meeting between KTR and Suresh Reddy.

Speaking to the media after the meeting KTR said that Suresh Reddy, a senior and experienced political leader, had won the hearts of all political parties and the people at large for the dignified manner in which he had conducted the Assembly proceedings in the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh. He also had a good rapport with KCR as both knew each other and were good friends since 1989.

KTR further explained that taking into view the hard work Suresh Reddy was known for putting in and his reputation, KCR had felt that his services would benefit the state in a big way, and had thus extended an invitation to him to be a part of the TRS. Taking into view the high office held by Suresh Reddy in the past, he would be given a fitting position since the list of nominees in Nizamabad district had already been announced.

Suresh Reddy said that he had been striving for the betterment of the poor and the development of backward villages all his political career. "I have also directly and indirectly worked during my political career for the cause of a separate Telangana state. I have seen how since 2014 Telangana has been marching forward with various welfare and developmental activities under KCR, and am therefore glad to be part of the TRS," he added.

Claiming that he was not aspiring for any power, position or political gains, Reddy said that his decision to accept the invitation of KCR was mainly to help towards the progress of the state. When reminded that the Congress was gearing up to dethrone the TRS in the upcoming elections, he quipped, "When the car is speeding in the right direction, where is the need for changing the driver?"

Reddy had previously been elected from the Balkonda constituency, and had later contested from the Armoor constituency but had been defeat. Though there were speculations that he might again enter the poll fray as a Congress candidate from either Balkonda or Armoor, in this sudden turn of events he decided to switch to the TRS giving a jolt to the Congress.