Notwithstanding his assertion that he won’t leave Congress, party’s strongman of Hyderabad Danam Nagender is still giving tense moments to the party leadership. Though the party’s emissary Md Ali Sahbbir, opposition leader in Legislative Council , returned cheerfully, after a meeting with the GHMC congress president, doubts still linger in the minds of many about the possible switch over of Danam to TRS. TRS is said to be offering many things including the Mayor post of GHMC, if he is interested, to Danam. Because the ruling party is ready to go to any extent to wrest Hyderabad from TDP and Congress which controlled the GHMC in past. Because the impression in the TRS is that unless the party wins the GHMC, the victory of TRS in Telangana is not complete.
For a man like Danam, having become a very important player in the rough and tough political life of Hyderabad city, where people need leaders of his ilk, who settle many local disputes, it would be difficult to remain out of power. The allurement of Mayor post of GHMC is too big an offer to ignore. As Mayor, Nagender, now an unofficial first citizen of his constituency, would become an official first citizen of the Hyderabad city. Given his clout, it is certain that Danam, as Mayor of GHMC would take Hyderabad to the new heights. It could be the reason for Danam’s hide and seek with this own party.
On Thursday, Nagender categorically said that he would remain with the Congress and was a loyal soldier of the party. He came before the cameras in the backdrop of an intense speculation that he was in the queue to join TRS after Congress MLC MS Prabhakar and TDP MLA G Sayanna.
What is giving room for suspicion was the very visit of Shabbir Ali to Danam’s residence. If there had been no doubt about Danam’ continuance in the party and, party believes that Danam’s assertions were sincere, where was the need for Shabbir Ali to meet him and assure him that he would get the priority in the party as per his expectations.
According to some reports that Nagender closeted with D Srinivas, who joined the TRS recently, (both are Munnuru Kapus) at the latter’s house in which some important TRS leaders were also present. Later he had a meeting with his friend follos,wers and some ex-corporators whom he promoted, in order to take their views on his political future. It is learnt that the followers are said to have left the final decision to Danam himself and assured him that they would follow wherever he would go.
Congress deputed Mohd Ali to Nagender when it smelt something wrong and came to know that Danam’s follower gave him freedom to take a decision. Shabbir Ali made AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh also to speak to Danam over phone, who asked him not leave the party. Still, doubts persists in Gandhi Bhavan about Danam’s political move.