HYDERABAD:

is bracing for more desertions. Rajvardhan Reddy from Mahbubabad constituency, who quit the party on Saturday, is likely to join the saffron party in the presence of

national working president JP Nadda on Sunday.

While a number of TDP leaders are likely to join BJP on Sunday, leaders from TRS and Congress too might join the saffron party during BJP president and Union home minister Amit Shah’s visit to the city on September 17. BJP has drawn up big plans to celebrate ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’. While names of former deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, Marri Shashidhar Reddy, Balram Naik are doing rounds in political circles indicating that the saffron party is in touch with them, the latest to join the bandwagon is Banda Karthika Reddy, who served as the first mayor of Greater Hyderabad in 2009.

Union minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy, who was touring his constituency, Secunderabad, on Saturday went to Karthika Reddy’s residence. Kishan Reddy told the media that he went to wish Karthika as it was her birthday (Aug 17).

When asked whether he invited the Banda couple to join BJP, Kishan Reddy said: “BJP has opened its doors for all the hard-working and committed politicians.” Later, when TOI contacted, Karthika Reddy, now TPCC general secretary, and her husband Banda Chandra Reddy (TPCC secretary) said, “We have neither said yes nor no. We will take our own time. We have been working hard to strengthen Congress and the party should recognise our services.” Sources said the Banda couple had been staying away from Congress activities since being denied the Secunderabad Assembly ticket in December 2018 polls. “However, they might not join BJP on Sunday (August 18) as they had told Kishan Reddy that they need some more time to take the final call,” the sources said.

Meanwhile, TDP leaders from Ranga Reddy, Khammam and other districts might join BJP on Sunday.