The deep rooted factionalism exposed during the `selection’ of Telangana’s new state president, seems to be continuing even after N Ramachandra Rao taking charge as the new party chief. The absence of most of the party’s MPs and MLAs when he was formally taking charge at state party office on Saturday, indicating lack of consensus prevailed within the party.
Most prominently, those who brought pressure on the party high-command to consider them as the state party chief, were not present. They include the party’s OBC Morcha national president Dr K Lakshman, MPs Etala Rajender and D. Aravind. Even Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar was not present.
The fact that key leaders were absent from the program has become a topic of discussion in political circles. Out of 8 MPs and 8 MLAs in the state, only Union Minister Kishan Reddy, DK Aruna and BJPLP leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy were present. Only MLC Anji Reddy and former MLA NVSS Prabhakar participated in the rally organized from Gunpark to BJP office.
After taking charge from Kishan Reddy as the state president, Ramachandra Rao announced that they would all work together. On the issue of resignation submitted by three-time MLA Raja Singh, he maintained silence. He only said that the party high command will take care of the Raja Singh matter.
Moreover, indicating his preference to act firmly against Raja Singh, he made it clear that there is no loss if anyone leaves the party because they do not like the BJP’s policies and decisions. He said that the BJP never cheats those who trust the party and that getting the post is proof of this.
Ramchandra Rao was furious over Minister Ponnam Prabhakar’s comments that the BJP has given the post of state president to the OC and left the BCs aside. He questioned how he could say that BCs were left aside just because he was given an opportunity as the state chief? He said that Prime Minister Modi is a BC and BCs are the vote bank of his party.
He challenged CM Revanth Reddy to resign if he had the courage and make BC the CM, otherwise he would resign from the post of president. He said that there are many opportunities in the party and that priority will be given to BCs.
