Ex-MP quits Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, OCT. 13. A former MP, Mr.B.N. Reddy, has announced his resignation from the Congress, alleging that the party is dominated by ``unscrupulous politicians with criminal background and backstabbers.''

In a letter to the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, he said he could serve the people and his followers better if ``I could get out of the suffocating atmosphere that pervades the Congress party in the State, particularly in Nalgonda district.''

Mr. Reddy was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Miryalguda constituency in Nalgonda district thrice, in 1989, 1996 and 1998. In the subsequent election in 1999, he was denied the party ticket to contest for the Lok Sabha but was fielded as party candidate for the Nakrekal Assembly constituency, which he lost narrowly. Senior parliamentarian Mr.S. Jaipal Reddy, who was fielded by the party in his place in the Miryalguda constituency, retained the seat for the party.

In his resignation letter, Mr. Reddy accused senior Congress leader and Ramannapet MLA, Mr.V. Purushotham Reddy of aiding and abetting a rebel candidate against him in the Nakrekal Assembly constituency.

At a press conference on Friday, Mr. Reddy said he would decide on his political future very soon after consulting friends and supporters. He did not rule out the possibility of joining the BJP. But some friends in other parties were also in touch with him, he said.

He targeted Mr. Purushotham Reddy in his letter to the Congress president, accusing him of indulging in anti-party activities and intimidating ``my followers.''

Mr. Reddy said he had made several representations to the APCC president, Mr.M. Satyanarayana Rao, Dr.Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, leader of the CLP, about the goings-on in the party, especially in Nalgonda district but no action was taken by the leadership. He could not therefore continue to sail ``in a sinking boat.''

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Section  : Southern States
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