Hyderabad, June 21 : In a huge setback to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), its senior leader and former Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy joined the ruling Congress party on Friday.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy personally visited Srinivas Reddy’s house to invite him to join the party.

Srinivas Reddy, a BRS MLA and prominent leader from Nizamabad district, accepted the invitation and agreed to work under Revanth Reddy’s leadership.

The former Speaker told media persons that he is ready to work with the leadership which is delivering. He hailed the works undertaken by the Congress government for agriculture, farmers and irrigation projects.

The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, welcomed Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and his son into Congress.

CM Revanth Reddy assured the former Speaker that the Congress would give him due place. The CM praised the senior leader for his efforts in the development of agriculture and the welfare of farmers.

Stating that the Congress government is working for farmers’ welfare, the Chief Minister said it would take Srinivas Reddy’s suggestions in this regard.

When the Chief Minister was inside Srinivas Reddy’s house, there was tension outside as some BRS leaders reached there and wanted to meet the BRS MLA. They were stopped by police. The BRS leaders, including Balka Suman, were detained.