The Congress High Command is putting all efforts to stop the exit of former minister K Jana Reddy from the Congress party.
Following reports that Jana Reddy might quit the Congress to join the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, several senior leaders spoke to Jana Reddy requesting him to re-consider his decision. According to sources, AICC General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi spoke to Jana Reddy late on Monday night assuring him that the Congress party would do justice to him. He was reportedly told that the party recognises his services for the party and appreciates his role in Telangana movement. He asked Jana to restrain from taking any hasty decision.
However, Jana Reddy is learnt to have decline the request and contended that a senior leader like him was ignored by the party during the recent appointments made for the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee. Further, the party has also announced that a BC leader would be made the Chief Minister of Telangana. In such a scenario, a senior leader like him is being subjected to discrimination just because he hails from a different caste.
Meanwhile, senior leaders in Telangana Congress have been directed to persuade Jana Reddy from leaving the party, even if he wishes to remain inactive during next elections. On the other hand, the Congress High Command has also started making calculations on the consequences of Jana's exit and its impact on Reddy voters who constitute more than six per cent of total electorates in Telangana. A list of probables who could join Jana is also being prepared, sources said.