Hyderabad, November 21: With less than 18 days remaining for Telangana to go to crucial assembly polls, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was dealt with a major setback as its richest lawmaker Vishweshwar Reddy announced his resignation.

In his strongly-worded letter to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Reddy said he is being forced to quit the party as the state government has turned "inaccessible". His letter of dissent accuses KCR of perpetrating injustice to those who sacrificed immensely in the statehood struggle. Asaduddin Owaisi Says Congress Offered Him 'Rs 25 Lakh Bribe' to Cancel Campaign For TRS Nominee.

"I fought for the party in 2014 when the party needed me. However, the party has inducted people who were against Telangana and our ideology into the cabinet and given them more power and prominence. I feel people who were fighting for Telangana and share a common ideology including me are no longer needed in the party," said Reddy, who currently represents the Chevella Konda constituency in Lok Sabha.

Vishweshwar Reddy is the husband of Sangeetha Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, one of the largest private hospital groups in the country. He had joined the TRS in 2014, on eve of the then assembly elections in unified Andhra.

With family assets of Rs 528 crore declared in 2014, he is the richest MP from Telangana.

Reddy told KCR that that he joined the party and contested the elections with the hope and enthusiasm at his invitation. During last four years, however, the party distanced itself from people, he alleged.

The parliamentarian stated that he had reasons at personal, constituency, state and party levels behind his decision. "I tried to maintain a fair and selfless stance on all issues despite provocation," Reddy wrote.

"I am powerless within the party and because of the tenets of good behaviour for a party member I could not speak out or take action. Furthermore, my multiple attempts to resolve issues or at least come to terms with them failed," he added.

"Since I am unable to acquiescence with the current scenario, I feel the best possible path for me is to resign from the party. I will also resign from the Lok Sabha," he further said.

It was immediately not clear if Vishweshwar Reddy will join any other party.

The development came close on the heels of the prediction by Congress' Telangana unit working President Revanth Reddy that two TRS MPs would quit the party and join the Congress. Interestingly, Vishweshwar Reddy and another TRS MP A. Seetaram Naik had then denied reports in a section of media that they were planning to quit.

(With IANS inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 21, 2018 11:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).