The sacked minister Eatela Rajender moves to join the Bharatiya Janata Party for his political survival may get some political relief to TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who had dropped the former from the cabinet, pending enquiries into allegations of land encroachment against the minister and his family concern.
In what is seen as a climbdown from his adversarial position against KCR, the former health minister, after feeling public pulse about his stature and based on feedback obtained from his well-wishers and sympathizers, is believed to have come to a conclusion that he would not be in a position to take on KCR on his own strength. Eatela has realized the need for having a ‘strong base’. This translates to being close to the corridors of power at the Centre.
The BJP, which first emerged as a viable alternative to the Congress party at the national level and later stormed to power by its commanding majority in the Lok Sabha, appears to be the only alternative for him too. The strategies being employed by BJP to grab power in India’s youngest state might have also prompted Eatela to move towards the latter.
Political observers say it would be an uphill task for a person like Eatela, who until recently had a clean image among the public, to take on mighty KCR, who has power and money. It is simply not possible for Eatela to take on KCR directly. KCR is a man who has deftly handled highly challenging political situations, including reversals at the hands of YS Rajasekhara Reddy during the latter’s regime in the erstwhile undivided state of Andhra Pradesh.
The outcome of the recent Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly by-polls underlined KCR’s ability to turn the tide in his favour. Former Congress Legislative Party leader and old war horse K. Jana Reddy had to taste defeat at the hands of TRS novice Nomula Bhagat. For Jana, it was the second consecutive defeat; the first one being at the hands of Bhagat’s father N. Narasimhaiah in the previous elections.
Despite failures on several administrative fronts, KCR continues to be a force to reckon with in the arena of TS’ politics. No wonder, he quietly got rid of the person whom he had once described as his ‘right shoulder’ by setting a muhurat and ejecting him for allegedly acquiring assigned lands. He did it, despite being aware of the sound backing that Eatela enjoys among the Backward Class (Mudiraj -fishermen) community, which plays a decisive role during elections. It was for this reason that Eatela was made the floor leader of the TRS legislature wing twice –2004 & 2009 — in the erstwhile AP State Legislative Assembly despite the presence of T. Harish Rao, nephew and aide of KCR in the legislature party. It is a different matter that Harish Rao too lost his political significance, following the emergence of K. Taraka Rama Rao, son of KCR, who is now being considered number two in the cabinet and the CM-in-waiting!
In this backdrop, Eatela chose not to take forward the proposal made in some quarters to launch a new party with an eye on consolidating the votes of the Backward Classes. After seeing the influence of money power in by-polls like the recent one in Nagarjuna Sagar, Eatela dropped the idea of launching a new political party.
Moreover, the example of former home & revenue minister of erstwhile AP during Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s regime T. Devender Goud, who had parted ways with his parent party and launched Nava Telangana Praja Party, must have convinced Eatela about the futility of launching a party. Goud later chose to merge his party with the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) of film star K. Chiranjeevi. Goud had unsuccessfully contested for both Lok Sabha & Assemby seats. The supporters of Eatela do not want a repetition of Goud’s episode in the 2023 elections.
That is why Eatela finds BJP to be a safe harbour. But Eatela may have to face troubles in BJP upon joining it. The saffron party is trying vigorously to grab power in Telangana. Prior to the political situation of 2004, BJP was against bifurcation of the undivided state of AP.
After eyeing the power equation in TS, BJP has picked a BC leader and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay for the post of party chief for its TS unit. Another BC leader Dharmapuri Arvind, son of TRS Rajya sabha member D. Srinivas, emerged victorious from the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency. These two prominent political figures of TS BJP might be the front-runners for the hot seat if the party is voted to power by virtue of their BC background. But now BJP appears to be in need of getting another BC leader Eatela to take on KCR in view of his long association with the latter.
At the end of the day, all of this brings happiness to KCR. For, KCR had tried his level best to cozy up to BJP during the first stint of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, probably to secure a cabinet berth for his beloved daughter and then MP K. Kavitha. If Eatela joins BJP now, then all doors of the saffron party will be closed for KCR. Both Sanjay and Arvind have always opposed the prospects of BJP joining hands with KCR. Now KCR has to keep distance from the BJP once Eatela joins it.
KCR knows fairly well that national parties like the Congress and the BJP cannot alienate him from his people. If all democratic forces unite and support Eatela apolitically, then it could affect KCR, say some observers. If Eatela switches to BJP tomorrow, Left parties and other political forces in Telangana will distance themselves from Eatela. So, perhaps KCR believes that there would be a divided house in TS against TRS! #KhabarLive #hydnews
