Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made significant changes to its leadership in Telangana, appointing G Kishan Reddy as the new president of the state unit. The decision comes amidst public infighting within the party and growing dissatisfaction among senior leaders.
In addition to Reddy’s appointment, Huzurabad MLA Eatala Rajender has been named as the chairman of the party’s Election Management Committee. The BJP has also made leadership changes in other states, with Sunil Jakhar taking over as the party president in Punjab, Babulal Marandi in Jharkhand, and D Purandeswari in Andhra Pradesh.
Over the past month, internal conflicts within the Telangana unit have spilled into the public domain, with leaders openly criticizing each other on social media. Several senior members expressed their discontent with the leadership style of Bandi Sanjay, leading to speculation about his potential replacement. While party leadership initially denied any plans for leadership changes, the announcement of Kishan Reddy as the new chief on Tuesday indicates a shift in direction.
According to party sources, BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently held discussions with Kishan Reddy, Eatala Rajender, and Bandi Sanjay in Delhi. It is believed that the decision to replace Sanjay was made to bring stability to the party, as internal conflicts were negatively impacting its prospects in the state. With upcoming assembly elections on the horizon, the BJP leadership recognized the urgent need to address the internal rift.
Although unconfirmed, there are reports suggesting that Sanjay may be accommodated in the union cabinet in the near future. Eatala Rajender, who has long been demanding a key responsibility within the party, had raised the issue with Nadda and Shah on multiple occasions. There were also speculations that Eatala, along with Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, was considering leaving the BJP to join the Congress, citing a lack of significance within the party.
The ongoing feud between the duo and Sanjay had created a significant divide within the party, prompting them to urge the high command for leadership changes. With these recent appointments, the BJP aims to address internal conflicts and present a united front ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.
