BRS MLAs Who Defected to Congress Feel Neglected
In Hyderabad, tensions appear to be brewing among the ten Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs who defected to the Congress. These leaders are reportedly unhappy with the Congress leadership, citing a lack of priority given to them both in government roles and within the party itself. Recent incidents, such as senior leader and MLA Danam Nagendar’s comments in support of BRS leader KT Rama Rao, and the reluctance of other leaders like Kadiyam Srihari to engage with Congress activities, suggest that all is not well within the party.
The BRS MLAs had joined Congress soon after the Assembly elections, drawn by promises of high-ranking positions, including ministerial roles in the state cabinet and chairmanships of corporations. However, even after a year of Congress rule in the state, these leaders feel sidelined. They claim they are being overlooked at both party events and official government functions organized in various districts.
Danam Nagendar, a senior leader from Hyderabad, has reportedly been vocal about his dissatisfaction. His frustration stems from the Congress leadership’s refusal to include him in the state cabinet. One possible reason for this could be his defeat in the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency during last year’s general elections. Despite the loss, Nagendar continues to demand a cabinet berth, but his demands have gone unheeded.
Similarly, Kadiyam Srihari, another senior leader, has been notably silent of late. Srihari had hoped that his contributions to the party would be acknowledged, especially after his daughter Kavya’s victory in the Warangal Lok Sabha seat during the 2023 elections. However, Srihari has been keeping a low profile, avoiding visits to the party’s Gandhi Bhavan office or the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) office. He has largely confined himself to Warangal and has reportedly been unwilling to meet senior Congress leaders or ministers who recently visited his district.
Other defected MLAs, such as Arikepudi Gandhi (Serilingampally), Prakash Goud (Rajendranagar), Kale Yadaiah (Chevella), Sanjay Kumar (Jagtial), B Krishnamohan Reddy (Gadwal), Pocharam Srinivas Reddy (Bhanswada), and G Mahipal Reddy (Patancheru), are also reportedly staying away from party programs and government events. Local political dynamics and rising tensions between these defected MLAs and existing Congress leaders have further complicated the situation.
Party insiders believe that the Congress leadership must act quickly to address these grievances. Without fulfilling the promises made to the defected MLAs, it could be challenging to bring them back into the fold. With local body elections on the horizon, resolving these internal issues is crucial to preventing electoral setbacks for the Congress.
