BRS pins rough patches in 15-odd Assembly seats; KCR keeps arsenal ready to handle them

HYDERABAD: The pre-emptive attack on opposition parties by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) by declaring 115 candidates three months ahead of the ensuing elections, has rendered them defenseless.

However, the move to renominate most of the MLAs also put the ruling party in a piquant position in at least 15 constituencies where the leaders from the BRS and those who migrated from other political parties were left disappointed. For most of them who were reaching the fag end of their political life this election would be a do-die mission.

Forecasting minor irritants here and there, the BRS Chief K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) at the time of the announcement of the first list made it clear that the party would use the services of other leaders who were not on the list in a different form. KCR not only identified the flashpoint, even came up with strategies to nip the trouble in the bud.

However, many dissatisfied leaders were rattled and are looking for greener pastures in other political parties. Hectic political activity ensued in the four Assembly segments namely Narsapur, Nampally, Goshamahal and Janagaon where the candidates are yet to be declared.

There was immense competition between party MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy and sitting MLA Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy for the Janagaon ticket. In Narsapur too, political heat reached a crescendo with sitting MLA Madan Reddy and former MLA and present State Women’s Commission Chairperson Sunitha Lakshma Reddy vying for the seat in the industrial belt. Sunitha, who shifted her loyalty from the Congress to the BRS, was heard saying that the ruling party had offered her a seat when she had joined the party from the Congress.

For Tummala Nageswar Rao, who quit the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to join the BRS, the rejection was a bit harsh to take. Tummala was admitted into the BRS after he lost the 2014 elections from Khammam on a TDP ticket. The BRS which was scouting for a strong Kamma leader in Khammam district took him under its wings and made him an MLC, a minister and even fielded him in Palair by-election. He won the Palair seat but lost in 2018 elections. The winner Kandala Upender Reddy later joined the BRS marking the end of the road for Tummala in the party. In a show of strength, Tummala organised a 1000-bike and car rally in Khammam on Friday.

Tummala, while addressing the large gathering, said he actually considered hanging up his boots from politics. However seeing the enthusiasm and immense support from people, he decided to reboot and not to disappoint his cadres. He vowed he would continue in active politics and sounded his indignation against the ‘humiliation” meted out to him by the party.

In fact, at the instance of the Chief Minister, Khammam MP Nama Nageshwara Rao had called on his bete noir Tummala a few days ago after the announcement of the party tickets to mollify his frayed tempers. However, the effort to placate him did not seem to bear fruit.

Mandava Venkateswara Rao, in Nizamabad, also from the same community as Tummala Nageswara Rao, was also seething with anger with the BRS ignoring him one more time.

Senior BRS leader Mynampalli Hanumanth Rao, who was nominated by the party for the Malkajgiri Assembly seat, was unhappy as he could not secure Medak seat for his son. The party re-nominated Padma Devender Reddy, instead. Infuriated by the denial of a second ticket to his family, he bad-mouthed Siddipet MLA and Finance Minister T Harish Rao. It was said that he already was in talks with the Congress and might refuse to accept the nomination by the BRS. On Saturday Hanumanth Rao convened a meeting of his supporters to decide his future course of action. Meanwhile, the BRS suddenly is scrambling to find an alternative to fight Hanumanath rao who would flood the market with his money and muscle power

In Karimnagar district BRS leader Inugala Peddi Reddy and Motukupally Narsmihulu in Aler (Earstwhile Nalgonda District) were also unhappy for not securing a place in the list. Motkupally who quit the TDP to join the BRS was seen a couple of times at important party programmes in Huzurabad and Yadadri. Kothagudem ex-MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao, who once gained fame by winning the lone seat from Khammam district for the party, was also in dilemma about his future options. Jalagam Venkat Rao had lost the 2018 election to Congress candidate Vanama Venkateswar Rao who had crossed the floor to the BRS. However much to his surprise, Venkat Rao, who challenged the election of his rival in Telangana High Court, was declared elected and the court rusticated the election of Vanama. However, the latter knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court which had suspended the high court ruling.

Former Deputy Chief Minister T Rajaiah, Wyra MLA Ramulu Naik, former Alair MLA Budida Bhikshamayya Goud, former MLC Swami Goud, Nakirekal former MLA Vemula Veeresham, Rammohan Goud of LB Nagar and Bommera Rammurthy of Madhira were some of the disgruntled leaders seeking grievance redressal.

Some of them like Dr Rajaiah and Vemula Veeresham, who showed a semblance of ‘adjustment’, sprang a surprise on Friday by evincing interest in raising the banner of revolt.

While BRS working president KT Rama Rao is busy securing investments for Telangana in the US the Chief Minister is confabulating with the known trouble shooter T Harish Rao in tackling the dissident activity. As soon as he returns to India, KTR’s plate will be full with the firefighting exercise.

It’s not as if KCR had not factored in the rough weather in over a dozen constituencies, he actually has his arsenal and blueprint ready to handle the situation, mostly amicably. He might assume a tough posture wherever mollycoddling doesn’t work.