TROUBLE FOR CONG: Rajya Sabha MP Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu resigns from Congress; set to join BJP

Days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress party has suffered a massive blow with its MP in Rajya Sabha from Telangana, Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu tendering his resignation from the party.

The sitting MP from the upper house of the parliament has written a letter to his party president Rahul Gandhi, informing him of his decision to leave the party with immediate effect. It is reported that Ananda Bhaskar will join the BJP. 

"With all humility, I hereby tender my resignation to the primary membership of the Indian National Congress with immediate effect," read Ananda Bhaskar's letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi.

This is a massive loss for the grand old party, given he becomes the latest in the list of those leaving the party and joining a rival party, be it in Telangana or in some other state. 

READ: HUGE BLOW For Congress: Tom Vadakkan Joins BJP, Says He Was Hurt Deeply When Congress Questioned Integrity Of Armed Forces

Only a few days back, Congress leader and a Gandhi loyalist, Tom Vadakkan, had ended his two decade relationship with the party and joined the BJP. 

Tom Vadakkan was the National communication Secretary for Indian National Congress. He was considered a close aide of UPA chairperson and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi. He had reasoned his departure due to the party's stand on the Pulwama terror attack, wherein the Congress played politics over the heinous act by terrorist outfit JeM.

READ: ANOTHER Setback For Congress: Former UPA Minister Jitin Prasada Expected To Join BJP, Days After Campaigning With Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

The grand old party is also staring at another major setback with reports indicating that former UPA minister Jitin Prasada is likely to jump ship to the BJP.

The development is especially critical given that Prasada had campaigned closely with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the short time that she has been an official member of the Congress. Further, he is the latest in what is quickly becoming a long list of Congress leaders to jump ship, the most recent being long-time Congress loyalist Tom Vadakkan.

Jitin Prasada had held three ministries in under the UPA governments, starting with being MoS Steel, then MoS Petroleum and Natural Gas, then MoS Road Transport and Highways, and finally, MoS in the Human Resources Development ministry.