Jayaprada eyes role in Congress as Nagam set to give BJP a fillip

Jayaprada eyes role in Congress as Nagam set to give BJP a fillip

The Congress and BJP in Andhra Pradesh are set for minor gains with Telagana leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy deciding to join the latter and actress-turned-politician Jayaprada opting for the ruling party.
Janardhan Reddy, who is an independent legislator from Nagarkurnool in Mahabubnagar district, resigned from the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) following differences with the party leadership on the separate Telangana statehood issue, while Jayaprada was expelled from the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh.

The yesteryear’s actress, who represents Rampur Lok Sabha (lower house in the parliament) seat, is reported to have met UPA chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi and expressed her willingness to join the ruling party. Political development in Andhra Pradesh, her home state, and the alleged police harassment in UP apparently played a major role in her deciding to join Congress, sources said.

In the past couple of months, Jayaprada had made it clear that she was keen on returning to Andhra Pradesh politics.

Meanwhile, Janardhan Reddy met BJP President Rajnath Singh in the national capital along with the party’s state unit president G Kishan Reddy. Speaking to mediapersons in Delhi after the meeting with Rajnath Singh, he said: “I have not taken a final decision to join the BJP, but will take some time to decide. But the fact is that Telangana can become a possibility only if BJP comes to power. I appeal to all the people of Telangana to support BJP candidates.” Kishan Reddy, however, was confident that Janardhan Reddy would join the BJP.