Former MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, who recently
resigned from the Congress, today said that he felt that Telangana needed another strong regional party as the states with two big regional parties were witnessing rapid development.
Addressing the media at his residence, Reddy quickly added that perhaps the establishment of more regional parties would only help the state's ruling party, the TRS, in any upcoming elections.
Explaining his decision to leave the Congress, he said, "Today, the Telangana unit of the Congress is neither able to project itself as an effective alternative political party nor has it been able to act as a strong party of the Opposition. So many senior leaders have left the party due to this. This is why I have been holding lengthy discussions with several leaders of Telangana regarding the establishment of a new political party. The discussions will help me decide whether I should join the TRS' primary rival, the BJP, or contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming elections."
Reddy added that he had met high-profile leaders including M Kodandaram, Teenmar Mallanna and Ramulu Naik, and was currently waiting to meet Health Minister Etala Rajender.
Not one to mince his words, the former Congress leader openly expressed his fondness and admiration for the minister, and said, "I think both Etala Rajender and T Harish Rao are able leaders. They listen a lot more than they speak. I think I would readily join the TRS again if Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his son, minister K T Rama Rao, quit their posts and handed over the reins of the party to Etala and Harish Rao."
In a comment that revealed his opinion of KCR as being an autocratic party head, Reddy claimed, "Many leaders of the TRS are currently scared of speaking to me as they fear that their phones will get tapped by the CM if they do so."
He then said that he would take a decision about his political future after holding extensive talks with his followers and supporters, and that he would continue to work towards resolving local-level issues in the interim.
When asked if he would join Y S Sharmila's
soon-to-be-launched party, the leader clarified that he would never do so.