Cracks in BRS as Mahender Reddy, Pilot Rohit Reddy cadres blame each other for defeat in Tandur

HYDERABAD: The BRS started holding preparatory meetings for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from January 3. When the party held a constituency wise review of Friday, rift between cadres became evident especially in the Chevella Lok Sabha constituency.

When former Minister Patnam Mahender Reddy rose to speak during a discussion, Rohit Reddy's cadre raised objections. This led to an argument between the two cadres.

Rohit Reddy and Patnam Mahender Reddy factions have been at each other's throats for years. In the 2018 Assembly elections, when the then Congress candidate Pilot Rohit Reddy defeated Mahender Reddy, former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) let the MLA cross over into the ruling party. To mollify an angered Mahender Reddy, the Chief Minister accommodated him in the State Legislative Council.

In the Assembly elections last month, KCR fielded Rohit Reddy from Tandur Assembly seat but to pacify Mahender Reddy, KCR promised to induct him into the State Cabinet. However, Rohit and the BRS lost the elections.

In the meeting on Friday, Rohit Reddy's cadre expressed anger and blamed Mahender Reddy for the defeat of BRS in Tandur last month. They felt that he was not fit to speak in the meeting. Mahender Reddy's cadre then countered the allegations which led to a heated argument between the two groups. Senior leader and former Minister Harish Rao then intervened to put the house in order.