Who is more powerful in the ruling TRS in Telangana these days? Not TRS senior leaders, not TRS ministers, not even the loyal party workers. Surprise of surprises - it's the Congress MLAS. Yes. Shocking as it may be, but the Congress MLAs who have announced that they would join the TRS, are the most powerful. They are deciding the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes and they are issuing the B forms to the ZPTC and mPTC candidates.
Interestingly, these MLAs have only announced that they would join the TRS, but they are yet to resign from the Congress. In the house, they continue to be Congress MLAs, but vote for TRS if needed. The TRS leadership has in fact given the signing authority to these non-members for issuing the B forms. Thus, Paleru Congress MLA Upender Reddy, who joined the TRS unofficially, has got the B form signing authority for his PRO Ramana. Similarly, Sattupally MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah has got the signing authority for his close confidant. In Bhadradri Kothagudem, Congress turncoat MLA Haripriya is the final authority on distribution of tickets. Ditto with MLAs Vanama Venkateswarlu and Rega Kantha Rao.
These MLAs are still technically Congress MLAs and will join the TRS only after the TRS gets requisite numbers to merge the whole party into the TRS. As these non-members rule the roost, the loyal TRS workers are feeling orphaned.
Interestingly, these MLAs have only announced that they would join the TRS, but they are yet to resign from the Congress. In the house, they continue to be Congress MLAs, but vote for TRS if needed. The TRS leadership has in fact given the signing authority to these non-members for issuing the B forms. Thus, Paleru Congress MLA Upender Reddy, who joined the TRS unofficially, has got the B form signing authority for his PRO Ramana. Similarly, Sattupally MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah has got the signing authority for his close confidant. In Bhadradri Kothagudem, Congress turncoat MLA Haripriya is the final authority on distribution of tickets. Ditto with MLAs Vanama Venkateswarlu and Rega Kantha Rao.
These MLAs are still technically Congress MLAs and will join the TRS only after the TRS gets requisite numbers to merge the whole party into the TRS. As these non-members rule the roost, the loyal TRS workers are feeling orphaned.