Roja to join Cong on Sept 9

As expected, the Telugu Mahila State president R K Roja is all set to join the Congress on September 9.As a prelude, Roja, who had been a bitter critic of Congress leaders, called on Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at his camp office, accompanied by former TTD chairman B Karunakar Reddy, MP K V P Ramachandra Rao and MLC Sivarama Reddy.

During her 20-minute meeting with the Chief Minister, Roja lauded his good works. Rajasekhara Reddy in turn praised her as the ‘best worker’.Though rumours had been rife for some time that she would join the Congress, Roja had flatly denied them.She indicated that she had almost made up her mind to join the Congress but did not divulge the muhurat. She would convene a meeting with his well-wishers and supporters on Sept 4.

After eliciting the opinion of leaders in the meeting, she would join the Congress party on Sept 9.‘‘For long, several forces worked against me and prevented me from growing in the party. Even my defeat in the election to the Chandragiri Assembly seat was due to machinations of some TDP leaders. What pained me most was that the party leadership did not bother to pull them up,’’ she pointed out.