Warangal poised for interesting politics

Warangal: Amid speculation of more such prospects, the crossing over of senior TDP leaders to the Congress is being seen in the political circles as emergence of a new phase of politics in the erstwhile district of Warangal.

However, Vem Narender Reddy’s switchover to Congress was a foregone conclusion, the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday had witnessed a hectic political lobbying that eventually tilted Naxal-turned-politician Danasari Anasuya aka Sitakka join the Congress.

Sources say that Sitakka was approached by her one-time party colleague currently in ruling TRS, before Revanth Reddy’s wife reportedly took her to Hyderabad from where she went to Delhi to join Congress in the presence of AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Thus, Sitakka not only ended her 13-year-old association with the TDP but also made party headless in her Mulugu constituency. On the other hand, her move endangered the prospects of senior Congress leader and two-time MLA Podem Veeraiah’s chances of getting party ticket.

Sitakka said: “If I am greedy of power, I would have joined TRS. My proximity with Revanth’s family and being part of teamwork carried out by him made me to follow him. By and large, all my followers in Mulugu constituency accepted my decision.”

While all this was happening, all eyes were on TDP Bhupalpally district Gandra Satyanarayana Rao which way he takes – Congress or TRS. With senior Congress leader Gandra Venkataramana Reddy being the hot favourite to be fielded from Bhupalpally constituency, it’s unlikely that Rao getting a ticket from here. Meanwhile, speculation is rife that TRS is also in race to get him into the party fold.

Speaking to The Hans India, Gandra Satyanarayana Rao said: “Right now, I have no thoughts of leaving the TDP. Yes, I was approached by some major political parties in last three years.” TRS leader Dommati Sambaiah, who also joined the Congress, has pinned his hopes on Revanth Reddy.

Sambaiah, who unsuccessfully contested from Station Ghanpur Assembly seat on TDP ticket in 2014, had later joined the TRS. He quit the police inspector job in 2004 and contested for Parkal Assembly seat unsuccessfully.

Meanwhile, political circles were agog with the ongoing party hopping triggered by Revanth and co’s cross over to Congress and its implications that likely to change the political equations in the district. As of now, barring Narsampet independent MLA Donthi Madhava Reddy, all other 11 MLAs are in ruling TRS.