Former Congress leader and last chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh N Kiran Kumar Reddy joined the BJP on Friday, lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and slamming the leadership of the Opposition party.

Reddy joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and hit out at the Congress leadership for its inability to accept people's verdict and make course correction, reports PTI.

Reddy said that Congress was “taking wrong decisions” and paying the price for them.

“The sad part is they are not interested in doing any course correction. If a mistake has been made, it should be acknowledged and efforts should be made to correct it. There is no such thing in Congress. Due to the Congress high command’s bad decisions, the party is losing everywhere,” he said, according to media reports.

"They believe they are correct and all others, including the people of India, are wrong, he said.

"They want authority to control but don't want to work hard or take any responsibility," said the four-time former MLA, who had quit the Congress last month.

Citing his family's over six-decade-long association with the Congress, Reddy said he never imagined he would ever leave the party.

"The Congress is getting damaged in all states and its high command does not interact with others or take their opinion," he said.

Reddy contrasted the rise of the BJP with the decline of the Congress since 1984 and lauded the ruling party's leaders led by Modi for their hard work and commitment towards the nation.

Reddy also praised the BJP leadership for taking bold decisions in the interest of the nation. “The commitment with which they are implementing their welfare policies is very commendable. I am motivated by the vision and commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have joined the party now and whatever role is assigned, I will do it enthusiastically,” he said.

They have clarity of thought and consistency, and taking courageous decision is the hallmark of the government, he said.

Reddy also lauded Modi's commitment to fighting corruption.

Kiran Kumar had resigned from the Congress party in 2014 too, to protest against the then UPA government's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and carve out Telangana. He formed his own party 'Jai Samaikyandhra' and even fielded candidates in some constituencies in the 2014 elections.

However, with no electoral gains, the former CM stayed away from politics for a long time before he rejoined Congress again in 2018.

The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh came at a heavy price for the Congress - there was a mass exodus of party leaders following the division and the grand old party has not been able to win a single Lok Sabha or Assembly seat in Andhra Pradesh since then.