Ex-MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to meet Amit Shah, may join BJP

HYDERABAD: BRS leader and former Khammam MP, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, will meet Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi on January 18 and if he finally bites the bait, Srinivas Reddy could be BJP's big catch to plough into unchartered territory, where the saffron outfit has struggled to find its feet. As per sources, he will meet the BJP leadership after the national executive committee meeting on 16 and 17 of this month.
There has been a protracted speculation of Srinivas Reddy joining BJP, but there was no official word from him. Even state party chief Bandi Sanjay's padayatra was scheduled to cover Khammam, with a public meeting planned to embrace Srinivas Reddy into the party. But it did not happen.
However, BJP persisted with its pursuit and a few days ago, Srinivas Reddy held a meeting with supporters and stated he enjoyed overwhelming support of the people, irrespective of his posts in the BRS. Within days of the remark, the former MP's security was whittled down. Again speaking at a private programme, the former MP said he will fight a 'Kurukshetra' in the next assembly elections and live up to the expectations of his followers in the undivided Khammam district.
Srinivas Reddy was YRSCP's sole MP from Khammam in the 2014 parliamentary elections, and he also served as the party's Telangana chief. Due to his close association with late YS Rajasekhara Reddy's family, it was once speculated he might even join forces with YSRTP chief YS Sharmila. He, however, backed BRS candidates in 2018 assembly and 2019 parliamentary elections.
While BJP is keeping quiet on the developments, sources say this time, party affairs in-charge Sunil Bansal is personally overseeing his probable entry. While there have been rumours of another former BRS minister from Khammam joining BJP, party leaders have yet to confirm this.
"We can certainly say there will be more joinings after Sankranti. If Srinivas Reddy joins our party it will be a shot in the arm for us as we don't have a presence there. We can't say much more," a top leader closely working with BJP's joining committee said. Meanwhile, the state unit, including BJP state chief Bandi, will be in Delhi for the NEC meeting, which will be held after a six-month gap. Sanjay is likely to present a report on his padayatra and the party's current standing in Telangana.