Aruna’s Open Appeal To Party President Exposes Fault Lines In Telangana BJP

HYDERABAD: Exposing another fault line, BJP vice-president and MP D.K. Aruna asked Telangana party chief N. Ramchander Rao, at a public meeting on Saturday, to take action against those who had worked against her during the Lok Sabha elections.

Aruna, praising Rao’s “neutral” leadership, urged him to act decisively on formal complaints she had submitted alleging sabotage by party colleagues. She accused certain BJP leaders of working for her defeat and even organizing a party in anticipation of it, and demanded disciplinary action. Aruna subsequently won the Mahbubnagar seat.

The party has recently been rocked by the resignation of Goshamahal MLA T. Raja Singh, the fiery attacks and counter-attacks of Union minister of state Bandi Sanjay and party MP Etala Rajendar and the open demand for tickets by MP Dharmapuri Arvind.

At the meeting, Aruna said she had hesitated to raise party matters in public and emphasised that loyalty and conscience should come before lobbying for tickets. She administered an oath to party workers to support whoever was nominated for the local body polls, even if they are denied tickets themselves.

Ramchander Rao, who was on the dais, echoed the message that party interests must always outweigh personal ambition.

The party was rocked earlier by the resignation of Goshamahal MLA T. Raja Singh, who claimed he was being denied a fair chance in the party state presidential election. Party leaders brushed aside his complaints as inconsequential to the BJP’s core ideology.

Tensions have escalated between Union minister of state Bandi Sanjay and Malkajgiri MP Etala Rajendar. Sanjay questioned why some leaders who allegedly worked against him should receive future tickets, prompting Rajendar’s loyalists to throng his residence and demand ticket assurances.

Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind has recently added to the pressure by calling for elected members to control local body poll nominations, a coded plea to favor his own supporters.

The open jostling for tickets and public airing of grievances marks a cultural shift for a party once known for discipline and consensus. When Ramchander Rao is intending to build unity, the unexpected voice by few leaders is setting the stage for further drama ahead of local body polls.

Split wide open

MLA T. Raja Singh resigns from the party

Union minister Bandi Sanjay has hinted MP Etala Rajendar worked against his poll campaign

Rajendar has accused, indirectly, Bandi Sanjay of sabotaging his chances

MP Dharmapuri Arvind demands elected representatives be allowed to select local polls candidates

D.K. Aruna accused party rivals of working for her defeat in LS polls