In a major blow to Congress in Telangana, one of its senior leader and legislator Sabitha Indra Reddy and her son Karthik Reddy are all set to quit Congress and join the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the state, says a report.
Sabitha Reddy, who was a former Home Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, met Chief Minister and TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao along with her son on Wednesday.
In the meeting she was speculated to have sought a Cabinet berth for herself and a TRS ticket for her son from Chevella Lok Sabha constituency.
KCR reportedly agreed to field Karthik Reddy but made no commitment on inducting her in his cabinet.
According to sources in Sabitha Reddy’s family, they will formally join the TRS at a public meeting in Chevella, to be held soon.
AIMIM Chief Asad Uddin Owaisi is considered to be playing a key role in Sabitha Reddy’s induction in TRS.
Sabitha Reddy on last Sunday met KCR’s son and TRS Working President K T Rama Rao at the residence of Asad Uddin Owaisi.
The TRS and the AIMIM have an understanding amongst themselves as the TRS is leaving the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat uncontested, to ensure Owaisi’s victory.
Following this meeting at, Owaisi’s residence, state Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy maintained the position that Sabitha Reddy will not leave the party.
Sabitha Reddy was elected from Maheswaram Assembly constituency.
Till now, with four MLAs defecting to TRS ,the Congress’s tally in 119-member Assembly has come down to 15.
If this number drops below 12, the party will lose its official status as opposition as the opposition in the Assembly.