Kaun Banega CM: A hot topic among Congress, BJP leaders

Hyderabad: The race for the coveted Telangana chief minister ‘gaddi’ is heating up in Congress and BJP parties, even before they saw victory in the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls. Meanwhile, the incumbent Bharat Rashtra Samithi seems to have no such issues!

It’s a foregone conclusion that BRS supremo and chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao will be CM again if the party is voted to power and the IT and Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao will continue as the CM-in-waiting.

High command picks, but leaders voice out!

On the contrary, there are too many CM aspirants in Congress who openly vouch for themselves. Congress, after its big win in neighbouring Karnataka, is sure of replicating the win in Telangana too.

While it is the Congress High Command which will take the final call on the state’s CM candidate, the party leaders are making their presence felt and are openly expressing their desire to become the CM.

Even though Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A Revanth Reddy is a frontrunner and the first choice for the CM post as the person steering the Congress party in Telangana, many seniors are not behind him.

First sign on six guarantees in December: Revanth

While speaking at a public event, Revanth said, “Six guarantees will be placed before people and the first signature will be on December 9, 2023, by Congress party. Telangana samaj should stand by Congress.”

I will be CM after 10 years: Jagga Reddy

Senior Congress leader and Sangareddy MLA Aredla Jagadeeshwar Reddy, popularly known as Jagga Reddy, was more open about his moves. “Even though I have to wait for 10 years, I will wait and I will become Telangana state CM,” he told the public.

I am treated like CM: Jana Reddy

Senior Congress leader K Jana Reddy too made no bones of wanting to become the CM, but in a different way.

“Whatever position I am in, I am treated like a CM with your blessings. Before and after the bifurcation too, people show me respect and consider me their CM. If lucky, who knows, I may also become CM like how PV Narasimha Rao became prime minister unexpectedly. If that’s the people’s wish my son will resign and I will contest and continue as the chief minister,” he said addressing party workers.

Mallu’s YSR style

Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Congress Legislature party leader, Madhira (SC) MLA from Khammam district, who undertook a mega padayatra similar to what late former CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy had done, is another CM candidate. But he made it clear that the party will decide.

“Congress will win with a big margin and form the government in Telangana. The Party and the CLP will decide the CM candidate,” he said.

There is no dearth of CMs in Telangana Congress. There is a former TPCC president and MP Capt. N Uttam Kumar Reddy, MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, CWC permanent invitee, and former deputy CM, Damodar Raja Narasimha to name a few more.

Dasoju Sravan, a BRS leader, taking a dig at CM aspirants in Congress, said, “They are not going to win even 15 seats, or their own seats in the past, and yet they have started fighting for CM chair. The state will go to dogs if Telangana falls into their hands. They will fight for the CM chair.”

BJP may turn towards BCs for CM candidate

BJP literally committed hara-kiri in Telangana. Fiery Bandi Sanjay, who raised the BJP graph as party president was unceremoniously removed and was replaced by Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of Northeast Region G Kishan Reddy.

The impact is severe. Several leaders and cadre quit the party, the latest being former MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, brother of Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, the Bhuvanagiri Congress MP.

The party now has CM aspirants in G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay, and Eatala Rajender among others.

However, the BJP is reaching out to candidates from Backward Classes (BCs) and is reportedly planning to make a BC candidate as CM if the party comes to power.

Among the BC leaders in BJP, Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman (Munuru Kapu), Huzurabad MLA Eatala Rajender (Mudiraj) and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay (Munurukapu) stand out. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pick the CM candidate.

BRS continues to have an edge over other parties, but the Opposition is not giving up hope along with CM candidates!