BJP three-time MLA Raja Singh’s recent video statement expressing his opposition to the move of making Malkajgiri MP and former minister Etala Rajender as new Telangana state BJP president has exposed deep internal rivalries among party leaders in the state.
Stating that he will support only a `pro-Hindu leader’ as next state BJP chief, Raja Singh indirectly hinted out opposition against Rajender. However, party circles felt that he was voicing only the concerns of union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay Kumar against such a move.
It was due to pressure from Rajender, BJP national leadership had earlier removed Bandi Sanjay as state BJP chief. He allegedly threatened that he would quit the party if Sanjay continued as state chief. Since then he has been cultivating a grudge against him.
Even present state chief G Kishan Reddy and other leaders are also unable to digest the importance party national leadership gave to Etala Rajender. They fear with his grossroot connectivity, if a chance is given he would hijack the party leadership in the state, if given a chance.
Giving a fitting reply to Raja Singh’s comments that `we need a fighter to head the state party’, Rajender asked `whether you want a street fighter or real fighter?’. In a way referring to Raja Singh, he ridiculed that he would never be involved in street fights, but only fight against `top’. He recalled that he had fought against five powerful chief ministers and was ready to fight against present chief minister Revanth Reddy also, if he fails to fulfill his poll promises.
Other senior leaders like MPs D K Aruna, M Raghunandan Rao and D Aravind also unable to work with others in the party and everyone having their own clout. As a result, the BJP central leadership is finding itself in an embarrassing situation with the stand-off between seniors in the party/
While appreciating the importance of giving key responsibilities to the old-timers, Etala Rajender asserted that a party needs new entrants as well to grow. “For a party to come to power, it needs new leaders and new functionaries. Without them, the party cannot grow. Both old-timers and new entrants should work in coordination for the development of the party,” he added.
However, Raja Singh, in a video that is now being circulated on social media and being aired by television news channels, said the party leadership, while choosing a new State president, should select someone who had been working in the party for a long time and believed in the party ideology and Hindu religion.
“The new State chief should be aggressive. He should have respect for the nation and religion. He should be in a position to take all the leaders together. I request the party leadership to take into consideration all these points before appointing the new president,” he said in the video.