Another Congress MLA to join Telangana Rashtra Samithi

HYDERABAD: A week after two of its MLAs left the party and joined the ruling TRS, Congress in Telangana was dealt a further blow when its legislator from Nakrekal, Chirumarthi Lingaiah, Saturday announced that he would join the Telangana Rashtra Samiti.nnThe MLA made the announcement in a press release here.nnThe two Congress MLAs — Rega Kantha Rao (Pinapaka) and Atram Sakku (Asifabad) — had announced on March 2 that they decided to join the ruling TRS in the interest of the ‘welfare and development of Scheduled Tribes, especially Adivasis.’nnTDP MLA from Sattupalle Sandra Venkata Veeraiah Sunday had also joined the TRS that day.nnWith the three Congress MLAs quitting the party, the party’s strength in the 119 member Assembly will now be down to 16.nnIn the December 7 2018 assembly elections, the Congress had won 19 seats.nnThe TRS had returned to power in the elections, winning 88 seats.nnGiving his reasons for joining TRS, Lingaiah said that despite being defeated at the hustings, the congress leaders had not changed their attitude.nnInstead of supporting the government’s developmental activities, they were creating obstacles, he alleged.nn”I believe it is not fair. I decided to join TRS for the development of my constituency and Nalgonda district,” he said.nnSource: Press Trust of India