Date:18/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/18/stories/2008081850090100.htm

Front Page

Jogaiah quits Congress, LS seat

Harirama Jogaiah

HYDERABAD: Congress MP Chegondi Harirama Jogaiah, who was waiting for film star Chiranjeevi to make a formal announcement of his entry into politics, has finally resigned from Lok Sabha as well as the primary membership of the Congress.

Minutes after the film star announced his political plans at a press conference, Mr. Jogaiah faxed his resignation letters to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Jogaiah, who hails from the Kapu community, made no secret of his decision to join Chiranjeevi’s party ever since reports of the film star entering public life took the centre-stage in the State. The Narsapur MP, who had earlier stated that all political parties were set to “get washed away in Chiranjeevi tsunami”, was at loggerheads with the Congress State leadership for some time now criticising the functioning of the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy government.

He dashed off letters to the party leadership about “corruption” at higher places in the State asking the party to take corrective measures or face drubbing in the next elections. Contacted by The Hindu, Mr. Jogaiah said he would announce his future course of action on Monday.

There was migration from other parties too immediately after Chiranjeevi’s announcement.

In Karimnagar district, former BJP MLA Venkata Ramana Reddy and former TDP legislator from Medaram Mathangi Narsaiah joined the bandwagon by participating in a meeting at circus grounds.

In Kadapa, former TDP Minister S. Khaleel Basha celebrated the occasion by cutting cake along with Chiranjeevi fans.

In Warangal, former TRS leader J. Jacharaiah, former Congress leader N. Praveen Rao, former TDP leader E. Pradeep Rao were in the forefront of the celebrations. In Nizamabad, the first migration began with former TDP legislator from Jukkal constituency T. Arunatara, TDP leader M. Rajender Reddy and Banswada MPP president Kasula Balaraj, stating that they would support Chiranjeevi.