TRS in damage control mode, disappointed leaders threaten to quit party

Warangal: In a damage control attempt, the ruling TRS has initiated negotiations with some leaders who have threatened to quit the party in erstwhile Warangal district.

Warangal district gave the much-needed boost to the Telangana movement in its later stages and played a key role in achieving  statehood. This is one of the strongholds of the party, with 11 out of 12 MLAs from the district belonging to TRS. The exception is Mulugu MLA Seethakka, who belonged to the Congress party.

Several leaders who were with the TRS right from the beginning but did not get proper recognition in the party are disappointed that the party leadership ignored their services.

Some of these leaders had hoped to get some nominated posts and while others expected assembly tickets. But. with the joining of many key leaders from other political parties, the TRS allotted them assembly tickets in two assembly elections and nominated posts also went to the leaders who defected to TRS from other parties. This deeply upset the loyalists.

The loyalists were not in a mood to mingle with the new entrants. With no hope for a future in the TRS party, the loyalists started looking for opportunities in other political parties. A senior leader of TRS, Bojjapally Rajaiah Yadav, who resigned from the ruling party, said many more will leave the TRS in the coming days. TS is set for assembly polls next year.

Errabelli Pradeep Rao, the brother of Panchayat Raj minister Errabelli Dayakar, was disappointed with the TRS leadership as he felt more importance was being given by the party leadership to those who joined in the party later. With no hope of getting a TRS party ticket in the next assembly elections, he decided to quit the party.

On behalf of the top party leadership, MLC Baswaraju Saraiah along with Mettu Srinivas visited Errabelli Pradeep at his house and tried to convince him to remain in the party.

Pradeep explained to the MLC the kind of “insults” he faced, even as he was loyal to the party. Saraiah counseled patience and assured Pradeep that he would convey these matters to the TRS leadership.

Later, speaking to the media, Saraiah said Pradeep is a loyal leader. Some injustice was done to Pradeep in the past, but the party is ready to give proper recognition to him in the days to come. The party asked Pradeep to continue with the party, Saraiah said.

Pradeep said he will announce his future plans after discussions with his well-wishers. Meanwhile, speculations are that Pradeep would contest the assembly poll from Warangal East. As there are no strong leaders for the BJP there, he is expecting a ticket from the BJP. He aims to join the BJP after submitting his resignation to the TRS party on August 7.