Internal Rift Surfaces in Telangana BJP as Raja Singh Resigns Over Leadership Appointment
The BJP’s decision to appoint senior advocate and former MLC N. Ramchander Rao as the new president of its Telangana unit has sparked dissent within the party. Prominent Hindutva leader and three-time MLA T. Raja Singh resigned from the party on Monday, expressing discontent over being sidelined in the leadership selection process.
Raja Singh, known for his firebrand image and strong base in the Goshamahal constituency, said he was not allowed to submit his nomination for the state president post. In a letter addressed to outgoing president and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Singh confirmed his resignation from the party’s primary membership, calling the move to appoint Rao a “deep disappointment” for him and “lakhs of dedicated BJP karyakartas.”
Leadership Change and Internal Fallout
Ramchander Rao filed his nomination in the presence of top BJP leaders including Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and national general secretary Sunil Bansal. The nomination was submitted to Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, the designated returning officer for the election. With no other nominations filed, Rao’s appointment is expected to be formally announced on July 1.
Rao, expressing gratitude after filing his nomination, said, “With the blessings and collective strength of the party, I reaffirm my commitment to serve the people of Telangana.”
However, Raja Singh’s resignation underscored growing dissatisfaction within party ranks. In a strongly worded letter, Singh questioned the manner in which the central leadership finalized the state president, alleging that decisions were made behind closed doors and guided by “personal interests” rather than grassroots sentiment.
“Right Leadership Needed for Telangana”
“Telangana is on the cusp of a political shift. At such a critical juncture, we must choose the right leadership to guide us forward. Otherwise, the opportunity may be lost,” Singh warned, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president J.P. Nadda, and senior leaders Amit Shah and B.L. Santosh to reconsider the appointment.
While Singh clarified that he remains firmly committed to the Hindutva ideology, he believes the current choice of leadership undermines the hard work and aspirations of several seasoned party workers, MLAs, and MPs.
The BJP had issued a formal notification for the state unit’s presidential election on Sunday. Several prominent names including Bandi Sanjay, MPs Arvind Dharmapuri, Eatala Rajender, K. Laxman, and D. K. Aruna were considered potential contenders.
Kishan Reddy, who led the party during the 2023 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, was recently re-inducted into the Union Cabinet. Under his leadership, the BJP improved its performance, increasing its Lok Sabha tally to eight seats, although it won only eight of 119 seats in the Assembly polls.
A leadership transition in Telangana BJP has been anticipated for months, but Raja Singh’s dramatic exit now puts the spotlight on the party’s internal cohesion ahead of crucial state-level strategies.
