Vijayashanti, FirstGen leaders may return to TRS

Hyderabad: The TRS party which has succeeded in ‘poaching’ several big wigs in Telangana Congress and TDP may get another ‘big fillip’ soon. If all goes well, Vijayashanti who was second in command in TRS till Telangana State was formed would soon stage a home coming.

The film actor turned politician, Vijayashanti was in constant touch with TRS leaders with whom she maintained good relations during her days in the party. She was elected as MP from Medak Parliamentary constituency during 2009 general election on TRS ticket. After bifurcation, she joined Congress.

She contested from Medak Assembly constituency during 2014 elections and lost. Leaders who did not want to be named told The Hans India that Vijayashanti was not happy in the Congress because she felt that the party had abandoned her after the elections. She has been maintaining a distance from Congress for not giving her any role.

She had merged her Talli Telangana with TRS before 2009 election and had been active in the Telangana movement till the bifurcation. Sources said that ‘Lady Amitabh’ was keen on reviving her political fortune by joining TRS. She is said to have held preliminary talks with some TRS top leaders including T Harish Rao.

It may take another two or three months for her to get a second chance in TRS, sources added. It is also learnt that the ‘first generation’ Telangana party leaders, who switched loyalties to Congress and other parties before 2014 election are also in close touch with TRS leadership and are contemplating to return to their ‘parent’ organisation.

Names of such leaders doing the rounds include Dr G Vijayarama Rao from Warangal, Duggirala Srinivas from Palakurthi in Warangal district, former minister A Chandrasekhar (from Vikarabad) and G Arvind Reddy from Manchiryal in Adilabad district. Dr Vijayarama Rao had contested from Wardhanpet assembly constituency and lost during 2014 election.

Chandrasekhar, one of the important leaders in the TRS before quitting the party, had recently met party Secretary General K Keshav Rao.Interestingly, another first generation TRS leader T Jayaprakash Reddy alias Jaga Reddy is also said to be keen to join TRS.

Reddy unsuccessfully contested from Sanga Reddy assembly constituency in 2014 as Congress candidate. Later, he switched loyalties to BJP in the by election to Medak Parliamentary constituency held recently. The BJP leader Y Srinivas Reddy, a close associate of KCR during the revival of the Telangana movement in the early 2000, was also looking at TRS as the right destination for his political future.

By:Patan Afzal Babu