After the untimely exit of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice President of India and several speculative names are going around as possible candidates to be picked up for this second highest constitutional position by the BJP top leadership, Telangana Chief Minister Minister Revanth Reddy surprisingly proposed the name of senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya for this coveted post.
Dattatreya is a prominent BC leader and also former Union Minister of State, only last week he completed his over six year’s stint as Governor. It may be recalled that before Dhankhar, veteran BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu was the Vice President from Telugu states.
Revanth Reddy deplores that Venkaiah Naidu was denied elevation to the post of President and instead sidelined. Similarly, he said Bandaru Dattatreya was appointed as a Governor instead of being considered for a higher role. Referring to resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, he called it an unfortunate development.
While choosing not to speculate on the reasons, he advised the BJP top leadership that the vacancy presents a chance to correct historical neglect.However, he said he is not sure whether he would support Dattatreya, if the BJP chosen to field him as Vice President candidate.He said that the final decision rests with the Congress high command and added that he would support Dattatreya’s candidature as Vice President. if such an opportunity arises.
Accusing the BJP leadership of sidelining BC leaders, citing examples such as the removal of union minister of state Bandi Sanjay Kumar as Telangana BJP president, he recalled that he was first replaced by union minister G Kishan Reddy and then by N Ramachander Rao, both upper caste leaders.
As Dattatreya’s term as Governor has ended, the Chief Minister suggested the BJP leadership that nominating him as Vice President of India would be a respectful gesture to address past injustices toward BC leaders.
At a time almost all BJP leaders were practically ignoring Dattatreya after his exit as Governor concluding that it was an end to his political career, surprisingly Revanth Reddy pushed his name for a higher constitutional position.