Appointment of district unit presidents sparks dissent in Telangana BJP

The party leadership named presidents for 27 districts; no consensus on other districts

HYDERABAD: Dissent has erupted in the BJP’s State unit over appointment of district unit presidents. The BJP leadership had announced appointment of presidents for different district units but leaders in many units are opposing the choices.

In Nalgonda, the BJP appointed Nagam Varshith Reddy as the district unit president. However, there was stiff opposition from a section of leaders over his appointment, citing different reasons, including inexperience.

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Similarly, leaders in Suryapet raised objections over not considering senior leader Sankineni Venkateswara Rao’s son Tharun’s candidature for the post. He was rejected citing inexperience. But this triggered dissent with many questioning the party leadership’s logic in appointing a young leader as president for Nalgonda unit.

They also announced that they would be declaring their future action plan shortly.

In all, the BJP leadership appointed presidents for 27 districts and there is no consensus on the other districts.

Meanwhile, uncertainty over the appointment of the BJP’s State president continues. Initially, there were speculations that there was a close contest between Malkajgiri MP Eatala Rajender, Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind and former MLC N Ramchander Rao for the post. Now, there is buzz that former BJP national secretary Muralidhar Rao and Mahabubnagar MP DK Aruna are also in the fray.

Since Aleti Maheswar Reddy has been appointed as BJP Floor Leader, the party leadership is reportedly trying to ensure social balance in appointing the new State president. Sources in the party said that the exercise to appoint a new State president would be completed by February 15.