Revanth Reddy Fiasco: TDP Hints That It Expects Explanation

Hyderabad: Amid reports that the party's working president A Revanth Reddy may quit and join the Congress, Telangana TDP chief L Ramana on Saturday said, without naming him, that a clarification is expected in such cases.

"If any news that hurts the Telugu Desam Party or creates insecurity for party activists, such persons....should appear before media and clarify," Ramana said, speaking to reporters. He himself had clarified that he would not switch loyalties as long as he was alive when similar reports about him appeared, Ramana pointed out. Disciplinary action would be taken if anyone violated the party's line on working with other parties, he said. There were reports in media that Revanth Reddy had met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and he would join the Congress soon.

Former Congress MP V Hanumantha Rao claimed that Reddy did meet Gandhi, and it would be better for the TDP leader if he joined the Congress. "We said six months ago that Revant Reddy, TDP is not strong here (in Telangana) even if you put up a spirited fight (against the ruling TRS)...Congress is a strong party... Now it is up to him whether to come (to Congress) or not. He met Rahul Gandhi...," Rao told reporters.

On Friday, a meeting of senior TDP leaders, which Revant Reddy attended, ended on a stormy note with some leaders demanding a clarification from him which was not forthcoming. TDP's strength in the Telangana Legislative Assembly has come down to three from 15 in 2014 following the defection of 12 MLAs to the ruling TRS.