Marri Janardhan Reddy to join Congress, likely to contest from Malkajgiri

Hyderabad: With an eye on continuing its winning streak from the Assembly elections into the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Congress Party is taking measured steps in candidate selection, particularly aiming to field strong contenders in key constituencies like Khammam, Nagarkurnool, Malkajgiri, Bhuvanagiri, Warangal, and Chevella. While both the BRS and the BJP have already announced candidates for nearly half of the seats, Congress has so far announced candidates for only four uncontroversial constituencies.

The focus has now shifted to the Malkajgiri constituency. There's a buzz around former BRS MLA from Nagarkurnool, Marri Janardhan Reddy, joining Congress soon, with rumors suggesting he has been offered a ticket to contest from Malkajgiri. This speculation gained momentum after seven BRS councilors from Nagarkurnool municipality joined Congress yesterday.

Since the conclusion of the Assembly elections, there have been rumors about Marri Janardhan Reddy considering a change of party. Despite receiving invitations from both the BJP and Congress, he remained indecisive. Although the BJP offered him a ticket from Zaheerabad contingent upon consulting with party workers, Marri Janardhan Reddy did not commit to a decision. 

Amidst this backdrop, rumors have surfaced about his imminent induction into Congress, with indications that his contesting from Malkajgiri on behalf of Congress is a foregone conclusion. However, he has yet to make an official announcement. Moreover, despite receiving offers from the BRS to contest from either Malkajgiri or Mahabubnagar, Reddy seems uninterested.