The decision by Telangana’s ruling Congress to admit Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA M. Sanjay Kumar into the party has sparked controversy, prompting senior Congress leader T. Jeevan Reddy to openly express dissatisfaction. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and his supporters may now reconsider their strategy of luring more BRS legislators following the backlash.
Jeevan Reddy, threatening to resign as Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), has garnered support among his followers, leading to central Congress leadership taking note of the situation. Efforts to pacify Jeevan Reddy by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka proved futile, resulting in Jeevan Reddy being summoned to Delhi by AICC in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi.
The recent defections have reduced BRS’s presence in the Assembly from 39 seats to 33, with the Congress seeing this as an opportunity to strengthen its position against the BJP, which doubled its Lok Sabha tally. However, Jeevan Reddy’s criticism, particularly of the admission of former Assembly speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and MLA Sanjay Kumar into the Congress fold without consultation, has brought internal dissent to the forefront.
Jeevan Reddy, a stalwart in Telangana politics and a long-standing Congress loyalist, questioned the necessity of encouraging defections when the Congress already commands a stable majority with 65 MLAs. His threat to resign as MLA marks a significant challenge for the Congress since assuming power.
Political analysts speculate that this episode may prompt intervention from Congress leadership, urging restraint in further defection maneuvers. Concerns are rising within the party about potential repercussions, including internal discord and defections to rival factions among sitting legislators and aggrieved party leaders.
The evolving situation underscores the complexities of political realignments in Telangana, posing strategic dilemmas for the Congress ahead of future electoral challenges.
