In what has become high-profile political jolts for the Congress party ahead of the league of elections, the party is enduring back-to-back setbacks with the exits of prominent leaders. A day after senior Congress leader AK Antony son's Anil Antony joined BJP, senior Congress leader Kiran Kumar Reddy has on Friday - April 7 joined the BJP. 

What took Kiran Kumar Reddy's decision of joining BJP to the limelight is that Reddy is the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He was in fact the last Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh as in 2014, the state's territory was bifurcated to create Telangana. Though Reddy had remained dormant in politics in the past few years, his allegiance with the BJP would likely give a boost to the saffron party in the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections. 

According to reports, the BJP's mission of pulling the leaders from the opposite camps aligns with its vision of rejunevating the party in the south ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Kiran Kumar Reddy could be a big purchase for the BJP from the south and Reddy has joined the BJP, weeks after quitting from the Congress. He resigned from Congress in March 2023 over differences with the party's leadership. 

Andhra Pradesh will host its assembly elections next year and amidst a political slugfest in the state between the rivals - Jagan Mohan Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu, BJP is aiming to have a breakthrough in the state to expand its base across the mostly-evasive south. On Friday, Kiran Kumar Reddy had joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in Delhi and he publicly slammed the Congress party's leadership. 

By citing that he had never imagined that he would leave the party, Reddy said that the Congress leadership believes that they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong. He further said that the Congress is getting damaged in all states and its high command doesn't interact with others or take their opinion. He also commended Modi's commitment to fighting corruption. 

Reddy praised the BJP leaders led by Modi for their hard work and commitment towards the nation. "They have clarity of thought and consistency and taking courageous decision is the hallmark of the government", he added. Welcoming the former Congress leader to BJP, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "Many members of Kiran Kumar Reddy's family were in Congress. When I met him some time ago, he told me that he was influenced by PM Modi." 

Joshi further said, "Today, he is taking a big leap and joining the BJP. He will strengthen our fight against corruption because his image as an MLA and minister has been very clean. It will be a big boost for BJP in Andhra Pradesh." In March 2023, Kiran Kumar Reddy wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in which he announced that he is resigning from the party. 

The Andhra Pradesh bifurcation was done in 2014 under the Congress-led UPA regime. Kiran Kumar Reddy had strongly opposed the bifurcation and left Congress for the first time. He launched his own political party 'Jai Samaikyandhra' but he didn't spark much impact in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He had later joined Congress in 2018 but remained inactive in politics for a long time. 

Now, he has ventured into a new political journey by joining BJP. It has been reported that Reddy would play a vital role in strengthening the BJP's presence in the state and he could be a potential chief ministerial candidate of BJP in Andhra Pradesh. He would also play a role of advancing BJP in Telangana, which will go for the assembly polls December this year. Several reports quote that Reddy's relationship and deep understanding of Telangana politics could be a big advantage for the saffron camp while locking horns with K Chandrasekhar Rao. 

Welcoming Reddy to BJP, senior Congress leader AK Antony's son Anil Antony, who joined BJP on Thursday, took to Twitter and wrote, "Welcome Kiran Kumar Reddy ji to the BJP! Glad you have also joined the organization that is working for India's core national interests and for public interests without prejudice and bias. How many more should say that the emperor has no clothes before the grand royals." 

Welcome Kiran Kumar Reddy ji to the @BJP4India ! Glad you have also joined the organization that is working for India’s core national interests and for public interests without prejudice and bias.
How many more should say that the emperor has no clothes before the grand royals… https://t.co/ZUKzJ9mPJU

— Anil K Antony (@anilkantony) April 7, 2023