Following the Huzurabad MLA Eatala Rajender’s visit to New Delhi and the speculations over a change in leadership in the Telangana BJP, a group of senior leaders organised a crucial meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday, June 11.
The meeting was organised to discuss the strategy to be adopted if the central leadership decided to replace incumbent state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
Following the reports that Rajender, who is the Joining Committee convenor, might be appointed as the state president replacing Sanjay, the group led by the former MP AP Jithender Reddy conducted the meeting to extend support to Sanjay.
Sources said Rajender was using his clout in New Delhi to convince the high command to make him the state unit president.
Rajender, who hails from a Backward Classes community, reportedly requested the high command to consider his political experience, the role he played during the agitation for the statehood of Telangana, and as finance and health minister under the BRS government’s rule.
Rajender’s New Delhi visit and Sunday’s meeting chaired by Jithender indicate that the dissidence was growing in the party despite the high command making it clear to the leaders to focus on strengthening the party on all fronts and gear up for the upcoming Assembly elections.Sources also said a unanimous decision was also taken during Sunday’s meeting to lodge a complaint against Rajender to the high command.
Leaders express anguish
The leaders also expressed anguish over the way Rajender was attempting to become the state unit head, ignoring the interests of other leaders who had been working for the party for decades.After the meeting, Jithender Reddy told reporters that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was leaking tidbits to the media about the change in leadership in the Telangana BJP unit.
“We strongly believe that our central leadership would not take any decision without consulting the state leaders,” he said.
He said the BRS and the Congress would form an alliance before the Assembly elections and contest together, while the BJP would be the only party that would fight the elections alone and emerge victorious.
He said the party became stronger in Telangana under the leadership of Bandi Sanjay.
