– Acceptable leader for all groups
– Long association with RSS
– Dedicated worker since the beginning
– Coming three years considered as peaceful one
– Before elections Bandi Sanjay may pick up as President
– Etela, Aravind were not considered
After several months of hiatus, the BJP has finally picked a new face to lead the party in Telangana. Old timer and loyalist N Ramachandra Rao has been named as the new BJP state president. Rao repalced Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy who was elected as the BJP’s state unit president in July 2023 replacing Bandi Sanjay Kumar. Pertinently, Union Minister of State and former BJP state president Bandi Sanjay pitched for Rao’s candidature. And Rao has the backing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It is said that for the next 3 years, Rao will lead the party in the state, and then Bandi Sanjay might take over before General elections. Though Sanjay was removed from the president’s post in the last elections, the BJP top brass still looks at him as someone who can take on the Opposition in Telangana.
In an interesting development, former MLC N Ramachandra Rao has reportedly been directed to file nomination for the State BJP president post, even as the nomination filing process was underway at the BJP office here on Sunday. The move clearly indicates the national leadership’s preference in selecting the new State president. Interestingly, Malkajgiri MP Etala Rajender, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay, former MP DK Aruna and Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh were among the key contenders for the post. In a video message, Raja Singh appealed to the party to consult both grassroots workers and senior leaders before finalising the new State president. However, the party’s directive to Ramachandra Rao appeared to go against this appeal. As there were no other nominations filed, N. Ramachandra Rao get elected in unanimous. Union Minister of State MSME Shobha Karandleage acted as Central Returning officer. Elections were held at BJP state head quarters in Hyderabad.
In Telangana, the party is understood to have decided in favour of Ramachander Rao after a section of Telangana RSS leaders and one faction in the party had recommended his name to the leadership. He has strong roots in the RSS and was tempered in the school of ABVP. He has also remained loyal to the saffron party since the time he joined. In fact, he is a dyed-in-the-wool BJP leader. The party veered to the conclusion that Ramachander Rao fits the bill since he is acceptable to all sections in the party. Though he belongs to the Brahmin community he has been chosen to keep the party afloat till the elections arrive three and a half years from now. The party is understood to have decided on the pros and cons of other leaders, but each one has his own disadvantage of opposition from one or the other groups in the party.
For instance, if Eatala is taken as president, there might be objection to him from Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s group, and if the latter is asked to helm the party, there might be opposition from Eatala and even Union Minister Kishan Reddy. Nizamabad MP Aravind Dharmapuri, who was also in the race for the president’s post, seemingly was not considered. The camaraderie between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bandi Sanjay indicated that the top brass takes his words seriously. And therefore they agreed on Rao. Even Arvind has opposition in the party, but when it comes to Ramachandra Rao, he is an acceptable leader. The party seemed to have decided against Eatala Rajender because of his long association with the BRS and also is under a cloud now in the wake of his role in the construction of Kaleshwaram project by Justice PC Ghose Commission of Inquiry. Being given many opportunities within the BJP, is still seen as someone who supports the BRS in the state. It may be recalled that Eatala Rajendra was once a minister in the BRS Chief K Chandrashekar Rao’s government. He left the party after fallout with KCR. During the inauguration of the Turmeric board in Nizamabad, when Amit Shah asked the audience to raise their hands if they think BRS is corrupt and the large-scale corruption was done in the Kaleshwaram Project, Eatala did not lift his hand. This did not go unnoticed. Party members have time and again informed the national leadership of Eatala’s closeness to a few BRS leaders. The party did not appear to be in the mood to take any chances. Ever since Bandi Sanjay was eased out as the party’s Telangana president ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has been handling both responsibilities.
Rao, 66, is an advocate from Telangana. From 2015 to 2021, he was a Member of the Telangana Legislative Council (MLC) for Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, and Mahabubnagar Graduates’ Constituency. He has also been in charge of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s membership drive in Telangana. Rao started his legal practice in Hyderabad in 1985. In 2014, he was elected as a member of the Bar Council of India. He has also been BJP’s Chief Spokesperson and the General Secretary of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Rao’s father, Professor NVRLN Rao, was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering for Osmania University. His daughter, Amuktha Naraparaju, is based in Australia and works in the IT sector. His son, Avaneesh Naraparaju, is a practising lawyer at the Telangana High Court. Rao took to politics while at Picket Kendriya Vidyalaya school during the Emergency. He was elected President of the Students’ Union (affiliated to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, (ABVP) for three straight years while studying Bachelor of Arts at Railway Degree College. He has also been secretary (ABVP) of Osmania Law College Student Union. Rao was jailed 14 times during his student years. Rao attended high school in 1977 at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Picket Secunderabad. He did a BA from Railway Degree College, Secunderabad in 1980 and got a Master of Arts (Political Science) from Osmania University in 1982. Rao did a Bachelor’s in Law from Osmania University in 1985.
After election N. Ramachandra Rao expressed his deepest gratitude to the people of Telangana for their unwavering faith in our shared vision for the state. He also thanked the Almighty for bestowing upon me this immense responsibility to serve our great land and its spirited citizens. This opportunity is a solemn mandate to work relentlessly for the aspirations of every heart of the people of Telangana. He conveyed his heartfelt thanks to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri NarendramodiJi, Union Home Minister Shri AmitShah Ji, & BJP National President Shri @JPNaddaJi for reposing their trust in me. He also expressed his gratitude to all other senior leaders at Central and state level for extending their support to him to become the president of BJP State unit.
It is very common that after election of any leader there appears some discontent among the party leaders who contended for the post. Likewise after election of Ramachandra Rao also some mixed response appeared among the party leaders of various levels. After becoming the new president of BJP, there will be great challenge for Ramachadra Rao in the form of Jubilee Hills by election. At the same time huge task before new president is to bring leaders belong to various sections under one umbrella. It is believed that being dedicated leader and with smooth behaviour Ramachandra Rao will become successful in bringing all such leaders and make them to move towards the party goals. When compare to other leaders who contended for this post, he has no groups will become an advantage for him to consolidate his position. At the same time his prolonged career in RSS and good relations in party higher level as well as his long time association with the state level leaders who worked for the party since the beginning will give edge for him. Before election of Ramachadra Rao party brought ‘M-3’ formulae forefront in order to pacify ‘Munnuru Kapu, Mudiraj and Madiga’ sections. As part of this Madakrishna Madiga received with good preference by awarding him with ‘Padmasri’. SC sub cast classification also brought to implementation. Now new state president Ramachandra Rao has Hercules task to coordinate all these three sections as per the wish of the party.