Karnataka win may boost Muralidhar Rao’s chances in Telangana

Hyderabad: With Dr K. Laxman's term as president of the BJP state unit drawing to a close, there is considerable jostling among contenders for the post.

Telangana state BJP leaders are visiting Delhi to meet senior members of the party to propose their candidatures for the post.

A senior BJP leader told this newspaper that after the BJP formed the government in Karnataka, the chances of the party’s national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka and senior leader P. Muralidhar Rao becoming Telangana BJP president are high.

Asked if he was in the race, Mr Muralidhar Rao said, “Neither the chair of Telangana BJP president is vacant nor is the general secretary’s post. After the Karnataka victory, I have hopes larger roles in the party at the national level as well as in Telangana state.”

When he was asked about BJP MP D. Arvind's statement that Mr Muralidhar Rao was successful as Karnataka in-charge and he has the responsibility of strengthening the party further, he said, “I will not make any comment to media about what my party member said and what I am. From the party’s national president to general members, people know me. They also know that I belong to Telangana state. I don't speak on public platforms about party leaders and workers.”

Others whose names have cropped up for the BJP state chief’s post are national executive member Naraparaju Ramchander Rao, chief spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao, MLA Raja Singh, Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay, ex-MP Jitender Reddy and P. Sudhakar Reddy.