HYDERABAD: Upset with Congress leadership for its poor response to his possible re-entry into the grand old party even as the BJP extended an invitation to him to join the saffron party, veteran politician and TRS Rajya Sabha member D Srinivas is in a dilemma over his political future.
Srinivas, who is known as DS in political circles, was Pradesh Congress Committee president when the state was united and also served as a minister.
Having decided to join the Congress, DS had even tried for an appointment with AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as he was keen on joining the party in their presence. But, he did not get an appointment in the last week of January and first week of February as the AICC leadership was busy finalising candidates for assembly elections in five states.
Sources in the Congress said DS was expecting a call from the party leadership and also an invitation from the local Congress leaders after the poll results, but it didn’t happen. Sources said at the same time, DS is now rethinking on rejoining the Congress in view of its poor show in the recent elections.
The BJP leadership is also wooing him into party as his son Dharmapuri Arvind represents Nizamabad in Parliament on BJP ticket. The saffron party gave the responsibility to Arvind to convince his father to embrace saffron party colours, it is learnt. DS is reported to have said that he would consider joining the BJP provided he is assured of a Rajya Sabha berth.
DS, who did not enjoy good relations with the TRS in the last three years, has also not been invited for the party meetings and other activities. Though other leaders accused him of indulging in ‘anti-party’ activities in Nizamabad district and rumours floated that he would be expelled from the party, the TRS did not send him out with an intention not to give a chance for him to join other parties. DS too did not move out as he did not want to lose his Rajya Sabha membership and waited for his term to end.
