Latest news with #TelanganaBJP
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP complains about fake Facebook account
Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao has urged DCP-Central Zone to take immediate action against culprits responsible for opening a fake Facebook account of the party and posing objectionable and false narratives causing confusion as well as division among the rank and file on Wednesday. In a complaint filed with the police, Mr. Rao said it was a serious offence under the IT Act and matter of grave concern to the party, hence a thorough investigation is necessary for taking necessary action. His own personal FB account was hacked sometime ago and he had already lodged a complaint about it, he added, in a press release. In a separate development, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar has informed the SIT investigating the phone tapping saga during the BRS government that he will appear before them on July 28 to record his statement and that of his personal staff.
The Wire
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
A Political Soup is on the Boil for Telangana's BJP
Politics Pavan Korada This feud between the two Telangana BJP leaders is the first and most severe test for the new state party president, N. Ramachander Rao, a veteran appointed to quell such factionalism. New Delhi: An uneasy ceasefire holds in Telangana's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but it is a thin veil over a deep schism that has burst into public view. The war of words between Malkajgiri MP Etela Rajender and Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar is more than a clash of personalities. It is the peak of a long-simmering power struggle rooted in ambition and political culture. Critically, it is a conflict between the party's two most prominent Backward Class (OBC) leaders, threatening the BJP's core strategy for social expansion in the state. This feud is the first and most severe test for the new state president, N. Ramachander Rao, a veteran appointed to quell such factionalism. Instead, the conflict has intensified, exposing fault lines that could derail the party's ambitions where it once seemed poised for growth. Anatomy of a public feud The trigger was a visit by Bandi Sanjay to Huzurabad, an assembly segment in his Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat. He questioned the loyalty of unnamed leaders and alleged a conspiracy to cut his vote share in the parliamentary polls. "Should we give the party ticket to such a candidate?" he asked, a clear reference to upcoming local elections. The target was unmistakable. Etela Rajender, who represented Huzurabud for multiple terms and sees it as his bastion, took the remarks as a direct challenge. His response was swift and theatrical. Gathering hundreds of supporters at his home, Rajender launched a furious counter-attack. Without naming Sanjay, he unleashed a personal tirade. "Who is he? Is he a psycho, a sadist, a human or an animal?" he charged. Using familiar Telugu terms, " kodaka" (son) and " ra" (a disrespectful 'you'), he warned, "Be careful, son, be careful." The fallout was immediate. Goutham Reddy, a close Rajender aide and the BJP's in-charge for Huzurabad, resigned from his post and the party. His letter cited the "suppression of Etela's faction", giving an official name to a problem the party's leadership prefers not to acknowledge. The BJP's high command has since imposed a gag order. But the damage was done. The conflict was no longer a backroom whisper; it was a public spectacle. The original sin of removing a president To understand the feud, one must revisit a key moment; the unexpected removal of Bandi Sanjay from the state presidency in mid-2023. At the time, Sanjay was at his peak. His aggressive Praja Sangrama Yatra had electrified the party cadre and positioned him as the main challenger to the ruling BRS and its chief, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had praised his efforts. His ouster seemed politically incomprehensible. Many believed it was the result of an internal campaign led by Etela Rajender, who had joined the BJP after his own rebellion against KCR. Rajender's by-election victory in Huzurabad was built on an anti-KCR "victim" narrative and his status as a formidable BC leader who could unite the opposition. Sanjay's removal created a damaging perception; that the BJP had struck a secret deal with the BRS. The narrative proved disastrous. The energised anti-KCR vote, now distrustful of the BJP, swung to the Congress, which swept to power. The BJP's image was shattered and its election results were a deep disappointment. For Sanjay's loyalists, this history is a story of internal betrayal that fuels the current fight. The high stakes of OBC politics This strife comes at a critical time. According to the state's recent caste survey, backward classes (BCs) make up a staggering 56.33% of Telangana's population. This demographic makes the OBC vote the single-most decisive bloc in state politics. The BJP's growth strategy depends on winning a large share of this community, a goal it has stressed by repeatedly promising a "BC chief minister." In fact, it nominated R. Krishnaiah, president of the National BC Welfare Association, to the Rajya Sabha recently. The spectacle of its two top OBC leaders in a public, personal feud shatters this narrative. It projects weakness and disunity to the very community the party is trying to court. The appointment of N. Ramachander Rao, a Brahmin, as state president – bypassing a top BC contender like Rajender – already surprised many observers. While the party called it a move to bring in a "quiet organiser", the decision is now seen through the lens of this conflict, suggesting that internal power balancing came before the broader social project. A collision of cultures The feud represents a clash of political cultures. Bandi Sanjay is a product of the BJP-RSS ecosystem, a homegrown ideologue whose OBC identity is part of the larger Hindutva framework. After being removed as president, he accepted the party's decision and took on a national role. His loyalty was ultimately to the institution. Etela Rajender is a powerful import from a different political world. A former radical Left student leader, his identity is primarily that of a major BC leader and a key figure in the Telangana statehood movement. A seven-time MLA and former finance minister in KCR's cabinet, his career in the BRS was built on a strong personal brand. His style, common in regional parties, sees a loyal faction as a source of strength. Observers suggest his error may be applying these methods within the BJP, a centralised party where open factionalism is anathema. While his Huzurabad win showed his personal appeal, his recent victory in Malkajgiri depended heavily on the BJP's organisation and the 'Modi wave' – a key distinction from the party's perspective. The endgame: pressure, exit or stalemate? With the conflict open, analysts see several outcomes. One view is that this is a high-stakes pressure tactic. Having helped force a leadership change once, Rajender may believe he can create another crisis. He has always aimed to be the party's Chief Ministerial face. He may be angling for a Union Cabinet post or another key role, assuming he is too influential to sideline. A second possibility is an exit. Yet, his options are difficult. A ghar wapsi (homecoming) to the BRS seems unlikely. The ruling Congress is already crowded with ambitious leaders. Launching a new BC-based party is a huge risk in a state where regional identity has proven stronger than caste, at least for now. This leaves the BJP in a dilemma. Punishing a prominent BC leader like Rajender could alienate a crucial vote bank and warn off other potential leaders. But inaction is just as risky. It undermines the new state president, shatters the party's image of discipline, and demoralises the cadre. Worse, it makes a mockery of its own OBC outreach. The future of the Telangana BJP now hinges on resolving this internal war. The choice is not just about managing two ambitious leaders; it is about salvaging its most important political project in the state. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Why should we beg for funds for our temples and Bonalu festival, asks Bandi Sanjay
Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, expressed his concerns regarding the treatment of Hindus in the state. The minister offered puja at Lal Darwaja during the Bonalu festival and asked, 'We pay taxes and bills and contribute to the government's treasury. Why are we in a situation where we must beg for our temples and Bonalu every year?' He announced that if the Telangana BJP comes to power, funds will be allocated for Bonalu and all Hindu festivals without needing to beg anyone to organise festivals that will make every Hindu proud. Bandi Sanjay called on the residents of Old City, who were displaced by terrorist attacks and violence, to return to their homes. 'I am appealing to all of you from Old City. I stand with you as a witness to Simha Vaahini Amma and the feet of Bhagya Lakshmi. Old City belongs to you. You need not be afraid. Return home; we will take responsibility for your protection. We will unite all Hindus as a vote bank and demonstrate the strength of our community,' he assured. During the Old City Bonala festival, Bandi Sanjay spent the day visiting various temples and participating in festivities. His route began with the Moosarambagh Pochamma Bonalu festival in the morning and stops at locations such as Akbar Bagh, Saidabad, Kurmaguda, Madannapet, Rakshapuram, Goulipura, and Akkannamadanna Haribowli temples. After visiting the Bhagyalakshmi Ammavari temple, he addressed thousands of devotees at the Lal Darwaja Simhawahi. He said that the tradition of offering Bonalu dates back 250 years when, during a plague outbreak, people prayed for relief, vowing to build a temple to the goddess and celebrate Bonalu. 'With the goddess' grace, the disease subsided, leading to the construction of the Mahankali temple in Secunderabad, where Bonal festivals are celebrated grandly. In 1908, following devastating floods in Hyderabad caused by the Musi River, prayers to the goddess also helped. Since then, it has become a tradition to celebrate the Bonala festival at Lal Darwaja,' he added. Sanjay Kumar said that the festival allows the celebration of all goddesses, including Bhagya Lakshmi, who is believed to protect Bhagyanagara. Every year, the Bonala festival is celebrated with great grandeur across the country, preserving our culture. No matter the changes through generations, the Bonala festival continues without interruption, and 'we offer Bonam to the goddesses as is our custom. I will continue to uphold Hindu traditions and work to protect this country and Hindu Dharma for my entire life.' Further, 'We owe our well-being to the grace of Goddess Simha Vahini and the compassion of Goddess Bhagya Lakshmi.' He recalled that he had successfully completed the Praja Sangrama Yatra with their blessings, spreading Hinduism throughout Telangana.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM should hand over reigns to a BC: Ramchander Rao
Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao demanded Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's resignation from his post, and asked him to make a person from the BC community as the CM if he is really committed towards their welfare. Addressing party workers at several places in Medak, during his tour on Friday, Mr. Ramchander Rao said that the onus is on the Congress Government to ensure 42% quota for BCs is implemented in the local body polls. BJP has voted in favour of the BC quota bill in the Assembly and offered support for the purported ordnance but the Congress Government has been spreading false information about the Centre not accepting the quota plea, he claimed. He questioned if the ruling party was not aware of the legal complications of having 10% for Muslims from within the BC quota as it would adversely affect the latter and reiterated the party's opposition to reservations based on religion. Vote bank politics was behind the move, maintained the BJP chief. The former MLC said it was the BJP which has set up the National BC Commission and more than 20 ministers in the Union Cabinet including Prime Minister Modi hail from the Backward Class communities. Expressing confidence in winning a majority of seats in local body elections, he said the people were itching to teach a lesson to the Congress government for failing to implement the promised guarantees to various sections of the people including farmers, students and others. The governance in the state has come to a standstill with the Chief Minister confined to Delhi visits. Mr. Ramchander Rao claimed that the party has successfully spread its tentacles from urban to village level and hoped that people would give a chance to party in the next assembly elections. Earlier, Medak MP M. Raghunandan Rao, district party president Mallesh and other leaders accorded a warm welcome when he reached Narsapur as part of his district tour.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Deputy CM Bhatti gets a ₹25 crore defamation notice from BJP president Ramchander Rao
Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao has slammed a ₹25 crore defamation notice on Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and sought an unconditional public apology for his 'illegal' and 'unlawful' acts of making false imputations against him with regard to the suicide of University of Hyderabad (UoH) research scholar Rohith Vemula causing him 'serious agony' and 'Irreversible' damage. Mr. Vikramarka has been given three days to apologise or criminal action will be taken claiming damages of ₹25 crore, said the legal notice sent on Tuesday. The notice sent through Mr. Ramchander Rao's advocate M. Vijayakanth and associates, mentions that the Deputy CM at a press conference held in New Delhi at the AICC headquarters has alleged that Mr. Rao was one of the persons responsible for instigating the suicide of the research scholar. The notice stated that the BJP leader was 'absolved' of any involvement in the final report filed by the police in the Court of Special Sessions Judge for Trial of Cases under the SC/ST Act, Ranga Reddy district 'due to lack of evidence'. The police, after examining 59 witnesses and gathering crucial evidence, has held that Mr. Ramchander Rao has not abetted directly or indirectly in the tragic suicide. Yet, Mr. Vikramarka had made 'false statements' which are 'defamatory in nature' with a 'preconceived motive to tarnish the fame and reputation' of the BJP leader, said the notice. Condemning the Deputy CM's statements, the notice said it has caused 'irreversible' damage to the Telangana BJP president's reputation. The notice has cautioned Mr. Vikramarka against making any more such 'false, malicious and defamatory remarks' or further criminal proceedings will be have to be initiated.
