Jeevan Reddy announces his decision to part ways with Congress party

JAGTIAL

Ending weeks of speculation, senior Congress leader and former minister T. Jeevan Reddy on Sunday announced his decision to quit the Congress party, ending his nearly four-decade long association with the party.

He announced his decision to part ways with the grand old party at a press conference held at his residence in Jagtial late on Sunday afternoon.

Attributing his decision to quit the party to what he called ‘growing interference’ of the ‘defected’ MLAs in party affairs, Mr. Reddy said, “The impact of defections in Telangana will ultimately dent the image of the Congress at the national level.”

“Respect is above everything in politics and in its absence, there is no meaning in continuing in politics,” he said, taking a swipe at Jagtial MLA M. Sanjay Kumar, accusing him of undermining the interests of the loyal Congress cadre in the district. “I cannot tolerate sidelining staunch Congress workers, who brought the party to power by toiling hard while the party was in Opposition for 10 years,” he said.

He found fault with what he termed as delay in taking up the construction of Tummidihatti barrage across the Pranahita river, a key project for meeting the irrigation, drinking water and industrial needs of Adilabad and Ranga Reddy districts. North Telangana will face the risk of drought if it is further delayed, he pointed out.

In an open letter addressed to the Congress cadre, Mr. Reddy said, “It has become intolerable to continue with the Congress party amid insults and mental agony.” “You are invited to the meeting slated to be held in Jagtial town on March 25 to give your suggestions for deciding the future course of action,” Mr. Reddy wrote.