Date:28/03/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/28/stories/2004032804060600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Former Speaker joins BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 27. The former Congress leader and Assembly Speaker, P. Ramachandra Reddy, joined the BJP today "impressed by the performance of the Vajpayee Government during the last five years". He is likely to be fielded from the Medak Lok Sabha constituency by the party.

At a press conference after joining the party in the presence of the Union Minister, B. Dattatreya, he said that he was not aspiring for any post and joined the BJP unconditionally to serve the party.

Mr.Reddy said that he had quit the Congress five years ago and criticised the party for failing to utilise his services.

Asked for his views on the demand for separate Telangana State, he said the division of Assam into seven smaller States had retarded development and also created political instability in those States with no party being able to rule for full term.

He appealed to the intellectuals to think whether a smaller State was a viable proposition. Regarding the demand for Telangana, he said that no new people's movement was required as it could be achieved with two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Describing Mr. Reddy's move as a `milestone' in the party's history, Mr. Dattatreya said it would have major impact in Telangana in general and Medak district in particular.

Referring to the latest opinion poll survey which indicated that NDA and its allies would get nearly 300 seats, he said that a pro-NDA wave similar to the one witnessed in favour of the Janata Party in 1977 would be witnessed in the ensuing elections.

He said that 95 per cent of the problems within the BJP in the State had been solved while 75 per cent of problems were still continuing in the TRS and the Left parties.