Padmini Reddy Quits BJP, Returns to Congress Within A Day

Hyderabad:In what could be seen as an act of political volte face, Padmini Reddy wife of senior Telangana Congress leader and Election Manifesto Committee Chairman, C Damodar Rajanarasimha, who had joined BJP on Thursday returned to the Congress fold in less than a day.

Also Read: Congress Leader Damodar Raja Narasimha’s Wife Joins BJP

Padmini had joined the BJP amidst much fanfare in the presence of BJP State Chief Dr K Laxman and BJP general secretary P Muralidhar Rao. An activist and Congress leader, Padmini is known for her social work in Medak. Why she had joined the BJP is still unkown. P Muralidhar Rao also tweeted pictures of her induction and wrote:"Impressed by the work of PM Narendra Modi ji, senior Congress leader Smt Padmini Reddy joined BJP today in Hyderabad (Telangana)."

But the saffron party's happiness was short-lived and by late evening, Padmini Reddy was back in the Congress party. Padmini created history politics for staying in a party for less than 10 hours.

She clarified saying that her return was because the Congress party workers were hurt because of her exit and that she had decided to come back to make them feel good.

Whether the decision was prompted by her husband C Damodar Rajanarasimha speaking to her or if the party high command contacted her directly is not known. However, this time an embarrassed BJP respected her decision to move back to the Congress.

BJP Chief Spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao said on Twitter, “Padmini Reddy is an educated and well-informed woman. BJP is a party which respects and believes in women empowerment. When she approached the BJP to join and work for the party, certainly we couldn't have asked her, to get her husband's permission for the same. We respect Padmini Reddy's decision either way. This only exemplifies BJP’s respect for women empowerment.”

Meanwhile, Telangana's caretaker Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao also took a dig at Damodar Reddy stating that even Damodar Rajanarasimha's family doesn't like him and if Padmini Reddy doesn't like Congress policies, how will people like the Congress party?