Senior TRS leader quits party after being ‘sidelined’

HYDERABAD: Senior Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) parliamentarian Konda Vishweshwar Reddy resigned from the party on Tuesday, complaining that he was feeling sidelined.

Reddy, the richest MP from Telangana with declared assets of at least ~528 crore, represents Chevella parliamentary constituency in Ranga Reddy district, close to Hyderabad.

Telangana goes to the polls on December 7 and the TRS is facing a united opposition alliance, including the Congress, the Telangana Jana Samithi and the Telugu Desam Party, in its bid to secure a second term.

In a three-page letter addressed to party chief, K Chandrasekhar Rao, Reddy announced he was quitting his Lok Sabha membership and alleged the government was becoming inaccessible to the people.

“I feel people who had fought for Telangana and shared a common ideology, including me, are no longer needed in the party,” he said. The MP said he was powerless within the party, and could not speak out or take action as he was bound by party discipline. “Furthermore, my multiple attempts to resolve the issues or at least come to terms with them have failed. Since I am unable to acquiescence with the current scenario, I feel the best possible path for me is to resign from the party,” he said.

It was not immediately known whether the MP planned to join the Congress or any other party. He has kept away from campaigning even in his home constituency during the current elections and had denied reports that he was planning to quit the party a few days ago.

Repeated attempts to reach the TRS for a comment were unsuccessful.

TWO WEEKS BEFORE POLLS, CHEVELLA MP WRITES TO TRS CHIEF KCR TO QUIT PARTY AND LOK SABHA SEAT, SAYS HE FEELS POWERLESS IN THE PARTY AND THAT GOVT IS INACCESSIBLE