Vivek Venkataswamy Quits BJP, Joins Congress

In a big blow to the BJP in Telangana, former MP Vivek Venkataswamy today left the saffron party.

He later joined the Congress in the presence of party leader Rahul Gandhi at a hotel in Shamshabad, along with his follower Vamshi Krishna.

Speaking to media persons along with TPCC chief Revanth Reddy later, Vivek said that he had joined the Congress to overthrow CM K Chandrashekar Reddy. Alleging that the KCR family had looted the State during its nine-year rule and that the aspirations of the people of the State had not been fulfilled even after statehood for the region, he said that the ticket was not important to him and that his aim was to rid the State of the KCR government.

He also added that his family had worked very hard to achieve Telangana, and that it was important for them to see that the State was in safe hands.

"People are unhappy with the BRS regime. There is a need to oust KCR," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Revanth Reddy said the joining of Venkatswamy's family had given the strength of a 1,000 elephants to the Congress. He recalled the association of Venkatswamy's family with the Congress for three generations beginning from Indira Gandhi, and to Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi now. He recalled that Venkatswamy was one of the MPs who had fought in Parliament for the formation of the Telangana State, and said that he had joined the party at his (Reddy's) invitation.

He expressed hope that the Congress would sweep the next elections with its slogan of change.