Hyderabad: The Telangana BJP is preparing for the local body elections, but internal tensions are rising. Conflicts have emerged between the older and newer members of the party. State BJP chief N Ramachandra Rao and other leaders are visiting districts to connect with party members. However, in the Huzurabad Assembly segment, supporters of Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar and BJP National Executive Member Eatala Rajender are in disagreement.
Party insiders reveal that the issue started after a comment by the Karimnagar MP during a press meeting. This led to a fallout, with Gowtham Reddy, the BJP’s Huzurabad convenor, resigning. He accused Eatala’s supporters of being deliberately excluded, allegedly influenced by the Union Minister.
About 5,000 of Eatala’s supporters from Huzurabad expressed their dissatisfaction over being ignored. A close associate of Eatala mentioned that newcomers to the party were left out of recent committee appointments, suspecting the Karimnagar MP’s influence, since Huzurabad is part of his constituency.
Supporters of Eatala believe the Karimnagar MP hindered Eatala’s chance to become state BJP chief. Meanwhile, Sanjay Kumar’s allies claim that Eatala’s group has been holding separate meetings in Huzurabad. They also point out that Bandi Sanjay Kumar didn’t secure a significant majority in Huzurabad during the last elections.
The situation intensified when Eatala threatened to leave the party due to a social media campaign against him. However, a leader clarified that the issue is only among followers in Huzurabad and Eatala isn’t planning to exit the party.
Eatala has warned against underestimating him and plans to inform the party’s high command about the situation. Some believe the conflict arises because both leaders, from the Backward Classes (BC), fear being politically overshadowed. Eatala emphasized he isn’t one to pretend friendliness while plotting against others.
The ongoing disputes in Huzurabad are becoming problematic for the party as the elections approach.
