Telangana Congress confused after anti-defection law proves ineffective against indecisive MLA

Hyderabad: The Congress in Telangana is mulling disciplinary action against MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy after he had hinted at leaving the Congress for the BJP.

The party's central leadership has taken a serious view of his "indiscipline" and his suspension is contemplated, Congress sources said.

However, the party plans to take legal opinion in view of the argument that anti-defection law may not apply if he is suspended, they said.

Rajagopal Reddy, MLA from Munugode, had recently blamed the AICC in-charge of party affairs in Telangana RC Khuntia and the state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy for the party's poor show in the Assembly election held in December last year.

The MLA then went on to hint at joining the BJP. He said, “BJP is the only alternative to the TRS. Only the BJP can face the TRS at the grassroots level. This is why so many leaders are joining the BJP, so that they may fight KCR’s (K Chandrashekar Rao) family rule in the state.”

While addressing reporters, he said, “The condition of Telangana Congress is pitiable. As many as 12 of its MLAs have joined the TRS already.”

The disciplinary action committee of the Congress in Telangana has issued a show-cause notice to him and reported the matter to the party’s high command.

The Congress in Telangana is already faced with a crisis as 12 party MLAs merged with the ruling TRS. The party had won 19 of the total 119 seats in the Assembly polls. But, it is now left with six MLAs, including Rajagopal Reddy.

The Munugode MLA was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bhongir in 2009 and lost the seat in 2014. In 2018, he was elected to the Assembly. His brother Venkat Reddy served as Nalgonda MLA between 1999 and 2018 and is now  MP from Bhongir.

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