Hyderabad

In yet another blow to the BJP in Telangana ahead of the Assembly elections, former MP and BJP’s national executive member G. Vivek Venkatswamy resigned from the party and joined the Congress on Wednesday.

With a heavy heart, I tender my resignation from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Vivek wrote in his letter addressed to Telangana BJP president G. Kishan Reddy.

Vivek later met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Novotel Hotel at Shamshabad here and joined the party. Accompanied by his son Vamsi Krishna, the former MP called on Rahul Gandhi, who is currently campaigning for the party in Telangana.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A. Revanth Reddy and other leaders were present. Revanth Reddy told reporters that Vivek’s joining will further strengthen the Congress party in its task of removing Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) from power. Vivek said he did not join the Congress for any post or ticket but to work for throwing the KCR government out of power.

Vivek alleged that for the last 10 years, the KCR government was working for his family and not for the betterment of people. There is a need for all to come together and end this evil rule, he said.

There has been speculation for the last several weeks that Vivek was planning to return to the Congress party. His son is likely to get a Congress ticket to contest the November 30 Assembly election.

Vivek, son of Congress leader and former Union minister late G. Venkataswamy, had quit TRS (now BRS) in 2019 to join BJP. He had resigned as advisor to Telangana government and quit the ruling party after he was denied ticket to contest from Peddapalli Lok Sabha seat.