TRS keeps former minister Jupally, rebel candidates at bay

Hyderabad: Former TRS minister Jupally Krishna Rao and his associates who won in the latest municipal elections as rebel candidates are facing a challenging situation, courtesy their party high command. As many as 11 Jupally associates won as rebel candidates on Forwarding Bloc platform in Kolhapur, while TRS bagged nine wards. TRS is falling short of two seats to clinch the 20-ward municipality.

Jupally met TRS working president KT Rama Rao and proposed to bring all the 11 rebel candidates into the party fold. For this, Jupally sought chairman's post for one of the rebel candidates. However, KTR turned down the proposal as the party high command is angry with Jupally for his anti-party activities.

KTR is confident that TRS can bag Kolhapur municipality with the ex-officio votes. That's why KTR didn't seek any help from Jupally and his associates, observes a political analyst. "TRS high command is very angry with those engaged in anti-party activities. TRS is ready to forego one municipality, but will never accept rebel candidates," said the analyst.

Other party senior leaders are also expressing solidarity to former minister Jupally. A senior Congress leader said that Jupally had resigned as a minister and joined TRS during the Telangana movement.

"Jupally proved his mettle on several occasions. But the TRS high-command is insulting him. KTR rejected the proposal of Jupally to bring the rebel candidates into the party and support it in bagging the Kolhapur municipality. But KTR rejected his proposal, and this is nothing but insulting him. It is high time Jupally quit TRS and showed self-respect," said a Congress leader.

The ill-treatment of Jupally by TRS high command has become the talk of the town in Mahbubnagar district political circles.