Hyderabad: A mistake that cost BJP Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh his Gaddi

Hyderabad: Bharatiya Janata Party called the bluff of Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh when it accepted his resignation, leaving him stranded and his supporters perplexed.

On June 30, Raja Singh, a Hindutva poster boy, submitted his resignation to the BJP Telangana President, G Kishan Reddy. Eleven days later, Arun Singh, National General Secretary and Headquarters In-charge of the BJP, wrote back accepting his resignation.

What triggered his resignation?

Visibly miffed, Raja Singh resigned on the day when the BJP appointed long-time party loyalist N Ramachandra Rao as the new Telangana state president. Raja Singh claimed he was the right man to lead the party in the state. However, he was seemingly ignored, and Rao took the cake.

On June 30, Raja Singh and his supporters met Abhay Patel, the BJP leader and party in-charge, and got a green signal to file his nomination. According to the nomination rule, Raja Singh’s candidature must be supported by at least eight council members.

However, he could only muster the support of three. Hence, he was disqualified, which resulted in his revolt and resignation.

Sources said people around Raja Singh could have been misguided or wrongly briefed him that if he resigns, he will continue to hold the MLA seat.

But little did he know that, as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, a member of a House belonging to any political party shall be disqualified if he has voluntarily given up his membership of such political party.

If the BJP writes to the Telangana Speaker, Raja Singh will be disqualified. And there will be a by-election for the seat.

Sources said the party was irked by his constant threats to quit and his plan to contest from Maharashtra. A source said the BJP was clear that they would not succumb to his tactics and accept his resignation.

Singh tried his best to convince his Delhi bosses that he was ready to take back the resignation if he was called to the national capital to explain his stand.

His reaction—

“Exactly 11 years ago, I took membership in the Bharatiya Janata Party. To serve the people, serve the nation, and protect Hindutva, I decided to join the BJP. The BJP, placing its trust in me, gave me the ticket from Goshamahal three consecutive times. For this trust, I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the BJP office bearers. Today, my resignation has been accepted by the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, JP Nadda. Perhaps I could not convey to Delhi the pain of millions of BJP workers who are working day and night with the dream of forming a BJP government in Telangana. I want to make it clear that I have not taken this decision for any position, power, or personal gain. I was born to serve Hindutva, and will continue to work for it until my last breath. I will always work with complete dedication and honesty for the protection of Hindutva, nationalism, and Sanatan Dharma. For the service of society and the rights of the Hindu community, I will continue to raise my voice until my last breath,” he wrote on social media.