Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has fulfilled his vow to decimate the BRS in Khammam district. Now, the BRS does not have any MLA in united Khammam district. Tellam Venkatrao, who won from Bhadrachalam on a BRS ticket, has joined the Congress thus quenching Ponguleti’s vengeance against BRS boss K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
Ponguleti shifted loyalty to the Congress frustrated over not being recognized for his services. He joined the Congress peeved over KCR’s attitude. During the recently held elections, Ponguleti vowed not to allow at least one BRS leader from Khammam touch the Assembly gates and now, it is a reality. In fact, Ponguleti strived for the victory of Congress candidates during the 2023 elections.
Of the 10 constituencies in Khammam, 8 were won by the Congress candidates while one other was won by the CPI, which is in an alliance with the Congress. In the remaining one constituency (Bhadrachalam), Tellam Venkat Rao registered victory on a BRS ticket. By pulling Venkat Rao also into the Congress fold, Ponguleti succeeded in fulfilling his vow.
Tellam is a supporter of Ponguleti. He too joined the Congress along with Ponguleti but with the Congress giving the Bhadrachalam ticket to Podem Veeraiah, Tellam reverted to the BRS and won from the constituency.
But, with the BRS suffering a defeat in the state, Tellam began attempts to shift his allegiance to the Congress.
The shifting of loyalty from the BRS shows that KCR and his coterie is failing in convincing the party cadre of prospect in their party. If KCR can’t stop this, the BRS will be in dire straits, said political analysts.
Tags BRS KCR Khammam congress Tellam Venkat Rao