HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao has received a massive setback with 35 Bharat Rashtra Samithi(BRS) leaders, including former MLAs and ministers, leaving the party and joining the Congress. The BRS leaders reached AICC headquarters in Delhi and received Congress membership.

BRS leaders joined Congress in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former President Rahul Gandhi.

Former MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, former minister Jupally Krishna Rao, former MLAs Panyam Venkateswarlu, Koram Kanakaiah, Kota Rambabu, Rakesh Reddy and BRS MLC Narsa Reddy's son are among those who quit the party. BRS had not attended the meeting of opposition parties held in Patna on Friday.