Etela Rajender Under Fire Within BJP Amid Internal Power Struggles
Former minister and Malkajgiri MP Etela Rajender, who entered the BJP with many hopes, is now facing tremendous pressure within the party. In fact, there was heavy speculation that Etela Rajender would be given the Telangana BJP state president post. Many believed that giving this post to someone like him, who has a thorough understanding of Telangana politics, would help the BJP win the upcoming elections in the state. But the BJP high command’s consideration of giving the state president post to Etela Rajender, who came from BRS, did not sit well at all with senior BJP leaders in Telangana. Hence, they made behind-the-scenes efforts and succeeded in preventing him from getting the post. As a result, the BJP state president post went to Ramchander Rao. This was an unexpected development for Etela Rajender. However, he did not express his dissatisfaction anywhere publicly. But in the past few days, Union Minister Bandi Sanjay has started political activities centered around Huzurabad, the constituency Etela earlier represented. As part of trying to get seats for his men in the upcoming local body elections, he questioned whether seats should be given to those who earlier made efforts to ensure BJP gets a low majority in that region. Though he did not name anyone, it is clear to anyone that these remarks were targeted at Etela Rajender. Due to these recent developments, there are signs of a split forming within the Etela group in Huzurabad. Some have already taken the route of resignations.
In this situation, Etela Rajender made sensational comments while addressing Huzurabad party workers who came to his residence in Shamirpet on Saturday. He said, “I only do straight fights. I don’t do street fights. But we cannot fight with those who stab in the stomach.” He stated that he knows how much patience to maintain. “I am thinking of sending all the noise some people are making on social media to the top leaders,” he said. “I don’t need anyone’s mercy. Not only in politics, in everything there are covert people. Don’t think about them. I will come to Huzurabad. I will stand with you. I will ensure you win in the local elections,” Etela Rajender tried to reassure the party workers. He said that he had moved forward by overcoming insults and humiliations in politics. He recalled that KCR did the same to him back then. Yet, the children of Huzurabad protected him, he said. He assured that he would protect them in return. He reminded that when Prime Minister Modi began election campaigns in South India, he first held a meeting in his (Etela’s) constituency. “Shamirpet is the BJP adda. I am the BJP MP here. This is the adda that gives breath to the party...the adda that gives inspiration to leaders...the adda that signals tomorrow’s victory,” he said.
“Whoever holds on to this—whether that person is a psycho, a sadist, a human or an animal… what party is he in? With whose backing is he daring like this? Be careful, bastard… be careful,” Etela Rajender gave a sharp warning. Though he didn’t name anyone, political circles are abuzz that these remarks were clearly targeted at Bandi Sanjay. Looking at the developments in recent times, leaders in his group fear how far Etela Rajender will be allowed to rise to key positions within the BJP. A senior leader questioned, “When they stopped him from getting even the party president post, will they let him get any other positions?” We have to see how long Etela Rajender will endure this pressure within the BJP. And we must wait to see how many more developments will unfold by the time of the next Assembly elections.
