HYDERABAD: Languishing in the Congress ever since he had quit the Kiran Kumar Reddy cabinet and fought on the Congress ticket in the Pulivendula assembly bypoll against YSR's widow Vijayamma a few months ago, former agriculture minister and YSR brother Vivekananda Reddy on Wednesday formally resigned from the ruling party along with his followers amid indications that he will join forces with his nephew and YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy.
Vivekananda Reddy's term as MLC ended in February this year and he was defeated by a huge margin in the Pulivendula bypolls. After this defeat, sources close to Viveka said, he was hopeful of being rewarded for his loyalty to the party with a Rajya Sabha nomination in April this year. However, that did not happen and a bitter Viveka decided to part ways with the ruling party.
Announcing his resignation from the Congress at a media conference in Pulivendula on Wednesday, Viveka said: "I cannot continue in a party which is bent upon tarnishing the image of my elder brother (YSR) and destroying his legacy. It was YSR who brought the Congress to power twice in the state. He also ensured the welfare of the poorest of the poor. I cannot continue in a party that is bent upon defaming my family."
Sources said the last straw was his being ignored in the selection of candidates for the three assembly segments in Kadapa district where bypolls are due to be held on June 12. Irked by the indifferent attitude, Viveka met Jagan two weeks ago and expressed his desire to return to the family fold. The sources said Viveka met Jagan two weeks ago where both uncle and nephew had a detailed discussion and Jagan assured his uncle all support. Viveka is likely to join the YSR Congress very soon and the date for that is to be decided after the conclusion of the bypolls.
From Jagan side, Viveka joining the YSR Congress is being viewed as a win-win proposal as the move would be seen as reunion of the family and benefit the Jagan party in the bypolls, at least in the three assembly segments in Kadapa district.
Vivekananda Reddy was defeated by a huge margin in the Pulivendula bypolls recently. After this defeat, he was hopeful of being rewarded for his loyalty to the party with a Rajya Sabha ticket in April this year. However, that did not happen and a bitter Viveka decided to part ways with the Congress.
from Times Of India
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