Revolt brews in BRS: KCR suspends two senior leaders for anti-party activities

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) national president and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao suspended former minister Jupalli Krishna Rao and former MP Srinivasa Reddy for anti-party activities.

Revolt was brewing

Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy was the first who raised the banner of revolt. He was followed by Jupally Krishna Rao. Both of them claim that the actions of chief minister are not democratic.

On April 9, Krishna Rao attended the Athmeeya Sammelanam in Kothagudem. This program was organized by Srinivasa Reddy.

Rao said: “The chief minister should act as trustee of the state government and protect people. Instead, his government is suppressing democracy."

Rao told the meeting that those who fought for Telangana have been completely sidelined. He said, “Sarpanches are worried as the government has failed to clear the pending bills of contractors who completed irrigation projects.”

In a frontal attack on KCR, Srinivasa Reddy said: “He is dreaming of becoming a chief minister for the third time but it will remain a dream only. KCR assured to provide 10 lakh jobs. He has failed to provide that. Why should people vote for him?”

In-fighting in the party

Jupalli Krishna Rao contested but lost the 2018 election to Congress' B Harshavardhan Reddy from the Kallpur constituency. He later switched to Telangana Rashtra Samithi. There has been a cold war-like situation between the two over the local body election.

Unhappy and looking at other parties

Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy is not happy with the BRS party. He has been lured by the Bharatiya Janta Party and is alleged to have met union home minister Amit Shah. There are also rumours that he has met Y S Sharmila of the YSR Telangana Party.

Reddy has been avoiding the BJP as he is not sure whether his voters will accept the change. In 2014, he won the Khammam Parliamentary seat on a YSRCP ticket. He later joined BRS. With YS Sharmila campaigning in Telangana, he is hoping that voters will accept his move.

With the suspension, the political landscape in the heartland of Telangana is in for a change. Different political parties are working hard for dominance.