HYDERABAD: The BJP in Telangana suffered a setback with senior party leader Motkupalli Narasimhulu on Friday deciding to quit the saffron party.
Narasimhulu, a former Telangana TDP leader belong to dalit community, is likely to join the ruling TRS. At a press conference, he said chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is the only true heir of social reformer Dr BR Ambdekar as he lauded the CM’s Dalita Bandhu scheme.
In a letter to BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Narasimhulu said his vast political experience was never considered by the party. He said he was also upset that his opinion was not taken before taking former health minister Eatala Rajender into the party. Speculation of Narasimhulu joining the TRS began after he attended an all-party meeting convened by KCR on SC community issues. “I attended the meeting after informing the state party chief. It is surprising that many in the party objected to this,” Narasimhulu said. He gave a call to those who joined the BJP to quit the party.
Meanwhile, sensing trouble, Sanjay initiated a dialogue with disgruntled leaders, mainly those who joined the BJP from the TDP. Narasimhulu, Erra Sekhar and Gandra Satyanarayana Rao have all resigned from the party in a span of a week ahead of Huzurabad bypoll.
Former minister E Peddi Reddy, who joined the BJP after quitting the TDP, openly questioned the decision of roping in Eatala into the party. Peddi Reddy was upset as he would miss the opportunity to contest the byelection after Eatala had joined the BJP. Till then, he was touted as the BJP candidate from Huzurabad. Sources said senior leaders were pacifying Reddy by telling him that he should consider fighting from Husnabad.
