Once BJP’s loudest voice in Hyderabad, Raja Singh now faces tough times within party

BJP plans to bring back Ala Purushottam, a prominent leader in Goshamahal, who left the party last year and joined BRS for a brief period, with an eye on reining in Singh

Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana, which has been facing problems with controversial Goshamahal BJP MLA T Raja Singh, has reportedly started to put a check on him by weakening his position in his own constituency.

The party is planning to bring back Ala Purushottam, a prominent leader in Goshamahal constituency, who left the party last year and joined BRS for a brief period, with an eye on reining in Singh.

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With the news of Purushottam’s return making rounds in the party circle, Raja Singh has become restless and posted comments on X that he was distancing himself from petty politics and would focus on serving the people of his constituency. In his comments, Singh emphasised that he would move away from minor political games and engage in religious activities. He also expressed his goal of transforming India into a Hindu nation.

Singh had also made remarks in the presence of Rajya Sabha member K Laxman, expressing his displeasure over the party’s decision to induct Purushottam back in the party. Sources say the BJP high command was unhappy with growing discontent against Raja Singh within the party. Singh has reportedly become a disruptive force, leading to the party’s decision to induct Purushottam.

The State leadership is also unhappy as Singh has been maintaining silence over the Musi river project issue. So far he had not made any comments on the issue though a large number of areas of his constituency falls under the Musi catchment area. Many colonies, including Chandrakiran Basti, Uppalamma Basti, Chudi Bazar and Shankarnagar in Goshamahal constituency are located in the Musi catchment area. Authorities have already evacuated some houses in those areas.

Raja Singh’s decision not to spend a night in the Musi catchment area along with other senior leaders, including BJP State unit president G Kishan Reddy, also angered the party leadership. Following this, the State leadership has decided to put a check on Singh and create an alternative power centre in the form of Purushottam, who has considerable following in the Goshamahal constituency.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, Singh was the only BJP candidate to win, but in the 2023 elections, eight BJP candidates emerged victorious. Singh, assuming the position of leader of the legislative party would be his, was disappointed when the high command appointed Nirmal MLA A Maheshwar Reddy to the role. This decision contributed to his ongoing standoff with the party.

Singh also remained absent from the parliamentary election campaign, sparking speculation about his diminishing role within the party. His lack of participation in major BJP events, including the Musi Nidra programme, has further fueled discussions that the party leadership may be looking to sideline him. His recent statements about prioritising public service over petty politics have added to the growing speculations.

Singh was under suspension after his controversial remarks on the Prophet Mohammad, as a counter to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government allowing stand-up comic Munawar Faruqui to hold a show in Hyderabad in August 2022. However, just before the Assembly polls in 2023, his suspension was lifted and the party renominated him from Goshamahal assembly constituency.