HYDERABAD: Congress senior leader and former minister T Jeevan Reddy on Wednesday finally resigned from the Indian National Congress, ending his 42-year association with the grand old party.However, he did not announce whether he would join any political party or launch his own party. His followers said a decision on future plans will be taken soon.He announced his resignation after holding a meeting with his main followers and supporters in Jagtial, and said he would now launch a fight against chief minister A Revanth Reddy, ashe had fought against then CMs N Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP and K Chandrasekhar Rao of the BRS.A six term MLA from Jagtial, Jeevan was defeated by Sanjay Kumar of the BRS from the same constituency in 2023-elections. He found fault with the Congress’ leadership for encouraging defections and taking in Sanjay Kumar into the party.“CM Revanth did not even condemn or come to speak to the family members of one of my main followers, who was murdered. I have been facing insults and humiliation in the party. The Congress came to power due to 10 years of the hard work of party workers who faced police cases and high-handedness of the BRS elected representatives and cadres. How can the Congress leadership again allow the BRS leaders to dominate over the loyal Congress workers. The taking in of BRS MLAs despite having majority in the house, will cause harm to the Congress as none of the party workers are happy with that decision,” Jeevan Reddy said.He sent his resignation letter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and explained the circumstances that led to his resignation. He thanked Kharge and Gandhi family for giving him opportunities and positions in the party and govt.Jeevan is a six-term MLA from Jagtial, including one term from TDP and five on the Congress ticket. He served as roads and buildings minister in YS Rajasekhar Reddy cabinet in undivided AP, and excise minister in NT Rama Rao-cabinet.He was unhappy with the Congress’ decision of taking BRS Jagtial MLA Sanjay Kumar into the party. Though TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, AICC secretary Sachin Sawant met him and assured full support on behalf of AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, Jeevan told his followers that he cannot stay in the party who could not respect the loyalists. “Honour is more important than positions. I did not say anything when I was not considered for a cabinet post. But Who is Vem Narender Reddy,” he asked. Vem Narender was recently elected as Rajya Sabha member.
