Cong struggles to keep its flock together

Hyderabad: With some Telangana Congress leaders showing interest in YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Congress is getting panicky. In a reflex action, the party said it is planning to organise a brainstorming session later this month to arrest the slide while leaders used choicest epithets in hitting out at those who showed interest in leaving.

Said PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana: 'Those who are leaving have their own agenda. They have selfish interests. Nothing is going to happen to Congress.' Party spokesperson Paladugu Venkata Rao described them as scum and invited a downpour so that it would be washed away.

'We will go to elections with a clean set of people,' he said. Rajya Sabha member Palvai Govardhan Reddy too disapproved of T leaders joining the YSR Congress. 'How can they join a party which is against Telangana. That means they are harming Telangana cause,' he said.

The party leaders went into an overdrive after Bhongir Lok Sabha member Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, former minister and his brother Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and Nalgonda MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy praising YSR sky high.

There were reports that Nagarkurnool MP Manda Jagannadham too would join the YSRC ranks but he denied them as baseless. Though none of the three -- Komati brothers and Gutta Sukhender Reddy -- spoke of joining the Jagan Mohan Reddy camp, they dropped several hints that they might soon find themselves in his company.

Though Venkata Reddy said that he and other Congress T leaders would form into a forum and fight for a Telangana state under the leadership of Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, analysts feel that the talk of forum is only to make everyone know that they are going to break free of the Congress soon.

Once this is done, their joining of the YSRC would not come as a shock to their constituents. As the slide will be quicker once Sharmila enters Telangana region, the PCC is planning to organise a brainstorming session later this month to discuss what should be done immediately to restore confidence in the MLAs who are afraid of contesting on Congress tickets. Apart from a leader from AICC, Botcha, chief minister, MPs and ministers will attend the programme.

Meanwhile, the YSRC has renewed hunting in the virgin land of Telangana. The party leaders are dropping subtle hints that many more MPs are showing keen interest in the party and might cross over anytime. 'If we guarantee tickets, at least 70 legislators would come to our office running leaving TDP and Congress,' a YSRC legislator said.

Though it is not yet clear how many fish Jagan would be able to land in Telangana, the YSRC is eyeing Reddy community in the region ahead of Sharmila's padayatra which is entering Mahbubangar district on Nov 22.

On Tuesday, R Jagadeeswar Reddy, son of former Congress MLA from Kodangal in Mahabubnagar district, which is now represented by Telugu Desam's A Revanth Reddy in the Assembly, joined the YSRC, indicating that the J camp is keen on landing Reddy community leaders in Telangana region.

A Velama Congress leader from Karimnagar district said that Jagan's camp is looking at Reddies in Telangana because they know very well that they cannot attract Velamas as they have a towering leader in KCR who is championing the Telangana cause.

Reddies might join the YSRC because they do not have any future in Velama dispensation, he said, adding: 'Look at what has happened to Jupalli Krishna Rao. What importance does he have in TRS now?' he asked.