The party veered to the conclusion that Ramachander Rao fits the bill since he is acceptable to all sections in the party.
Published Jun 30, 2025 | 11:26 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 30, 2025 | 2:34 PM
File photo of N Ramachander Rao. (X)
Synopsis: The BJP 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.
Former MLC N Ramachander Rao is set to lead the BJP Telangana unit, with the party’s central leadership reportedly asking him to file his nomination at 2 pm on Monday, 30 June.
As no other nominations are expected, his election will likely be unanimous. His selection comes as a surprise, with Eatala Rajender long seen as the frontrunner.
The BJP, however, is known for springing surprises in selecting candidates for positions.
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 may decide on a new face ahead of the elections as the term of the president is three years. It may plump for a BC leader then, sources said.
Ramachandra Rao’s selection brings down the curtain on the never-ending speculation over who would be the party’s new president. Several names, apart from Rajender, were in circulation, with the prominent ones being Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind and Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
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. 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. 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.
In Andhra Pradesh too, the party is understood to have decided in favour of former MLC PVN Madhav. He served as a member of the council. In all likelihood, he will be stepping into the shoes of incumbent and Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandeswari.
In fact, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan seemed to have preferred Madhav for the NDA boat to sail smoothly without being rocked by unforeseen developments. Madhav is expected to play along with both Jana Sena and TDP seamlessly.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
