Former judge K. Ravinder Reddy, who quit after delivering the verdict in the Mecca Masjid blast case, has joined the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), part of the Opposition alliance led by the Congress for the coming Assembly polls, weeks after expressing keenness to embrace the BJP.

The move is being seen as a shot in the arm for the TJS in the run-up to the December 7 polls. Reddy was welcomed into the party by TJS president M. Kodandaram at an event on Saturday.

Reddy, the then judge for National Investigation Agency cases here, had on April 16 acquitted preacher Aseemanand and four others in the Mecca Masjid blast case. He had resigned as a judge within hours of pronouncing the judgment, citing personal reasons.

Last month, Reddy had expressed eagerness to join the BJP, describing it as a “patriotic party”.