In a blow to the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana, Deputy Mayor of Greater Hyderabad M. Srilatha and her husband, BRS Trade Union Chairman Shobhan Reddy, switched allegiance and joined the Congress on Sunday.
The couple formally joined the Congress at the party’s state headquarters, Gandhi Bhavan, where they were welcomed by Congress in-charge for Telangana, Deepa Dasmunsi.
Expressing their grievances, the couple alleged that leaders who played pivotal roles in the Telangana movement were not receiving adequate recognition within the BRS.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar addressed the media, stating that the influx of BRS leaders into the Congress was a result of their discontent and assured that each new entrant would be given appropriate recognition within the party.
Earlier in February, Srilatha and Shobhan Reddy met with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, signaling their intent to switch parties.
Shobhan Reddy reportedly expressed interest in contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket from the Secunderabad constituency. Srilatha’s defection marks the second instance of a BRS leader from Hyderabad joining the Congress this month.
Former Mayor of Greater Hyderabad, Bonthu Rammohan, also recently joined the Congress and is vying for a Congress ticket from the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency.
Prior to this, BRS corporator and former Deputy Mayor Baba Fasihuddin also crossed over to the Congress party.
Rammohan and Fasihuddin, who served as Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively from 2016 to 2021, are anticipated to bolster the Congress’ presence in Greater Hyderabad, where the party faced setbacks in the recent Assembly elections.
