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Ex-Andhra Pradesh CM Kiran Kumar Reddy Joins BJP, Takes `King` Jibe At Rahul Gandhi
Taking a veiled jibe at Congress leadership, Kiran Reddy said, `There is an old saying - my king is very intelligent, he doesn`t think on his own, and he doesn`t listen to anyone`s advice.`
New Delhi: Ex-Congress leader and last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh N Kiran Kumar Reddy joins BJP. Reddy joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and hit out at the Congress leadership for failing to accept the people's verdict and correct course. They believe they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong, he said.
Kiran Reddy further stated that they want to control but don't want to work hard or take responsibility, according to the four-time former MLA, who left the Congress last month.
Reddy said he never dreamed he would leave the Congress, citing his family's six-decade association with the party.
"Many members of Kiran Kumar Reddy's family were in Congress. When I met him some time ago, he told me that he was influenced by PM Modi. Today he is taking a big leap and joining the BJP. He will strengthen our fight against corruption because his image as an MLA and minister has been very clean. It will be a big boost for BJP in Andhra Pradesh," said Prahlad Joshi.
The Congress is being damaged in all states, he claims, and its upper command does not interact with or listen to others. Reddy compared the BJP's rise to the Congress's decline after 1984, and praised the ruling party's leaders, led by Modi, for their diligence and commitment to the nation. They have clarity of mind and consistency, and they make courageous decisions. Reddy also praised Modi's commitment to combating corruption.
Ex-CM Kiran Reddy resigned on Sunday
Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, resigned from the Congress party on Sunday. In a one-line letter to the party's national president, Reddy asked him to accept his resignation from the party.
Kiran Reddy's revolt against Andhra Pradesh's division
Despite the fact that the Congress' high leadership retained him as chief minister for four long years amid internal dissension, Kiran Reddy revolted against the party in protest at AP's division. He pushed hard to preserve the state united and put pressure on the high command not to grant Telangana statehood. Angry by the party's decision to proceed with granting Telangana independent statehood, Kiran Kumar Reddy passed a resolution in the state assembly to keep the state unified.
In 2018, he again rejoined Congress after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He also served as assembly speaker from 2009 to 2010 and chief whip between 2004-09 under YS Rajasekhara Reddy. On Thursday, former Defence minister AK Antony`s son Anil Antony joined BJP (BJP) in Delhi.
Anil Antony joined the BJP in the presence of Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan. Kerala BJP chief K Surendran and senior party leaders Tarun Chugh and Anil Baluni were also present at the occasion. Anil Antony thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his induction into BJP.
The development comes months after Anil Antony, who was a Kerala Congress Social Media Team Coordinator and resigned from all posts of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee in January following the row over BBC`s documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
(With ANI Inputs)