Hyderabad: Congress strongman in the capital city, Danam Nagender is all set to join the TRS soon. According sources, Mr Nagender is being lured into the party to be part of the Chief Minister’s aim of winning the GHMC polls to be held in October next year.

“In fact, Mr Nagender too is inclined and a few weeks back had sent feelers to Mr Rao. However, Mr Rao did not respond then,” admitted a TRS MLC.

Recently, Mr Rao had a lengthy discussion with party leaders, including party secretary-general and MP Dr K. Kesava Rao, and it was decided to accept Mr Nagender into the party. It is learnt that ministers from the city, T. Padma Rao, Talasani Srinivasa Yadav and Nayani Narasimha Reddy had discussions with Mr Nagender in the last few days and are working out modalities.

Mr Nagender, considered a strongman in the city, especially in Khairatabad, Jubilee Hills, Asif Nagar and other constituencies, lost Khairatabad Assembly seat in the general elections to BJP.

Mr Nagender, who hails from Munnuru Kapu community, the dominant community of the city, is learnt to have insisted on the Mayor’s post.

So far, there has been no assurance from Mr Rao regarding this.