TS-BJP MLA Raja Singh raises banner of revolt

Hyderabad: The lone BJP MLA in Telangana, Mr Raja Singh, raised a banner of revolt against his party leadership in the state on December 2. He expressed anguish at the party leadership for ignoring and sidelining him during party activities.

Speaking to media in Hyderabad, Raja Singh accused the party leadership of hatching a conspiracy to defeat him in assembly elections in December 2018. He added that he could beat them thanks to the blessings of God and the people of his constituency.

He was elected as MLA for the consecutive term from Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad. Known as a hardcore “Hindutva” leader in Telangana BJP, Raja Singh sparked several controversies since 2014. During his first tenure as MLA, he had made sharp remarks and criticism against minorities, especially the AIMIM. He had accused latter of making Old City as the ‘den’ for illegal Pakistan migrants and a harbour of terrorists.

Raja Singh alleged that the BJP did not recognise him as the BJP Legislature Party leader in the State Assembly. Addressing media here, he attributed the electoral defeat of BJP state unit president Dr K Laxman to the preoccupation with party office works and not being able to focus on the constituency.

He charged the Union Minister of State for Home Kishan Reddy for not adhering to protocol and not providing him information on a visit to Maharajgunj.

Answering a question, Raja Singh noted that he nursed no interest to become the BJP state unit president. According to him, who identifies UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as his political guru, Bandi Sanjay, Arvind and DK Aruna are eligible to hold BJP State President’s post. His areas of focus are safeguarding Hindu dharma and cows.

He alleged that senior leaders in the party worked for his electoral defeat while the party workers put everything at stake to get him elected as MLA. Revolting against his party leadership is not new for Raja Singh. In his first term as MLA, he lodged a complaint with the BJP national president Amit Shah against then MLA Kishan Reddy for sidelining him in the party.

In August 2018, he announced to have resigned from BJP to take part in “Go Raksha movement,” claiming that he did it to save PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and BJP from embarrassment.