Cong MP Sukhender Reddy to join TRS

In a major setback to Congress, one of its two MPs from Telangana G Sukhender Reddy and former MP G Vivek today decided to join the ruling TRS. "I have taken this decision (to join TRS) to extend full cooperation to the party and government in the interest of (irrigation) projects and the development of our district (Nalgonda)," Reddy, Lok Sabha member from Nalgonda, told reporters here. The differences among party leaders are hurting Congress in the state, he claimed. The need to work for development of Telangana is a major motivation to take the decision, he said, adding that he would not hesitate to quit as Member of Parliament. Congress won only two Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2014 elections. The other Congress MP is Nandi Yellaiah from Nagarkurnool constituency in the state. Significantly, former MP G Vivek, and his brother and former minister G Vinod, both sons of late Congress leader and former Union Minister G Venkataswamy, also announced their decision to join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Appreciating the efforts of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for the development of the state, Vivek said he decided to join TRS to support the former in his endeavour. Vivek also hailed the role played by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the formation of a separate Telangana. He had joined the TRS ahead of the formation of the separate Telangana, but went back to Congress after the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Bill was passed in Parliament. He contested the Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket, but lost. CPI MLA from Devarakonda in Nalgonda district Ravindra Kumar said he decided to join TRS in the interest of development of his constituency. A number of MLAs, belonging to opposition parties like Congress, TDP and YSR Congress have switched loyalties to the ruling TRS since it came to power in 2014. The strength of TRS in the Legislative Assembly rose to 82 in the 119-member House. This excludes some Congress MLAs who moved to TRS. TDP Lok Sabha member Malla Reddy and YSR Congress MP P Srinivasa Reddy have also joined the TRS in recent months.