In a strongly worded letter addressed to G Kishan Reddy, Singh described the decision to appoint former MLC N Ramachander Rao as the new state president as a “shock and disappointment” to himself and “lakhs of karyakartas.”
Published Jun 30, 2025 | 6:04 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 30, 2025 | 6:04 PM
BJP MLA T Raja Singh.
Synopsis: Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh resigned from the BJP on Monday, opposing the reported decision to appoint N Ramachander Rao as the new Telangana unit president. In a strongly worded resignation letter, Singh said the move had disappointed “lakhs of karyakartas” and alleged that decisions were being made by a few individuals “behind the curtain”.
In what could be a major blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana, Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh has resigned from the party, expressing strong opposition to the reported decision to appoint former MLC N Ramachander Rao as the new state president.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to incumbent state BJP president G Kishan Reddy on Monday, 30 June, Singh described the decision as a “shock and disappointment” to himself and “lakhs of karyakartas.”
“This decision has come as a shock and disappointment, not just to me, but to lakhs of karyakartas, leaders, and voters who have stood by the party through every high and low. At a time when BJP stands at the threshold of forming its first government in Telangana, such a choice raises serious doubts about the direction we are heading,” he wrote.
“I have been a dedicated Karyakarta, elected three times in a row with the blessings of the people and support of the party. But today, I find it difficult to stay silent or pretend that all is well.”
A three-time legislator from Hyderabad’s Goshamahal constituency, Singh had earlier shown interest in contesting for the post of Telangana BJP president.
The silence of many should not be mistaken for agreement.
I speak not just for myself, but for countless karyakartas and voters who stood with us with faith, and who today feel let down.
Jai Shri Ram 🚩 pic.twitter.com/JZVZppknl2
— Raja Singh (@TigerRajaSingh) June 30, 2025
Earlier in the day, Singh had said the president of the Telangana unit of the BJP should be elected by party workers from the booth level to the state level.
He mentioned that he had been receiving calls from people asking why he should not become the president.
“I am asking the party leadership to give me one opportunity to serve the party. If I am given a chance, I will start a wing in the party for the protection of cows, will support those who protect cows, and will visit each and every home to explain to the people the virtues of the BJP,” he said.
“The party should refrain from imposing candidates. If the consideration is whether someone belongs to my group or your group, the party would stand to lose.”
He said that if the party is serious about capturing power in the state, it should refrain from nominating presidents. “There should be an election for the post of president,” he added.
Singh further alleged that when he went to the party office in the afternoon to file his nomination papers, they were snatched from him.
The national council members reportedly told him they would not support his candidature and even asked whether he wanted to stay in the party or face suspension.
“I could get signatures of only three members. I needed seven more signatures. As a result, I could not file nomination papers,” he said.
However, in his his resignation letter, he said it was not driven by personal ambition. “This letter reflects the pain and frustration of lakhs of loyal BJP karyakartas and supporters who feel sidelined and unheard,” he wrote.
Singh also requested Kishan Reddy to inform the Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly that he is no longer a member of the BJP. He clarified, however, that he remains committed to the ideology of Hindutva and to serving his constituency.
“While I may be stepping away from the party, I remain fully committed to the ideology of Hindutva and the service of our Dharma and the people of Goshamahal. I will continue to raise my voice and stand with the Hindu community with even greater strength,” he wrote.
“The silence of many should not be mistaken for agreement.”
Referring to the reported nomination of Ramachander Rao, Singh questioned why other senior leaders from the state – those he believes have the “strength, credibility, and connect” to lead the party – had been overlooked.
Though he refrained from naming individuals, Singh suggested that vested interests were influencing key decisions.
“Some individuals, driven by personal interests, have misled the central leadership and taken decisions by running the show from behind the curtain,” he wrote.
“This not only undermines the sacrifices of grassroots workers but risks pushing the party into avoidable setbacks.”
Calling on the BJP’s central leadership to intervene, Singh appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, and general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh to reconsider the current trajectory in Telangana.
“We had the best opportunity in years to bring the BJP to power in Telangana. But that hope is slowly being replaced by disappointment and frustration, not because of the people, but because of the leadership being placed at the helm,” he said.
Singh is a vocal proponent of Hindutva, aligning closely with the BJP’s ideological core.
He was arrested in August 2022 for alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad in a video targeting comedian Munawar Faruqui, which led to his suspension from the BJP.
Though he was released on bail hours later, he was subsequently arrested again under the Preventive Detention Act.
He has delivered multiple hate speeches, particularly targeting Muslims, and has accused some of them of engaging in “Love Jihad.”
In March 2023, he gave speeches in Maharashtra inciting violence, advocating cow vigilantism, and praising Uttar Pradesh’s policy of using “encounters” to quell opposition to Hindutva ideology.
During the 2023 Ram Navami Shobha Yatra in Hyderabad, he made provocative remarks, including the use of derogatory language targeting a mosque.
More than 100 criminal cases have been registered against him, mostly related to hate speech, promoting enmity, and disturbing public order.
Although suspended by the BJP in August 2022 for his comments on Prophet Muhammad, the party revoked his suspension in October 2023 after receiving his explanation.
Earlier this year, he voiced dissent within the BJP over the appointment of T Uma Mahendra as president of the party’s Gosha Mahal-Golconda unit, threatening to resign.
He also refused to take the oath in the Telangana Assembly in 2023 if AIMIM’s Akbaruddin Owaisi was appointed pro-tem Speaker, citing ideological objections.
Singh is known for his “gau rakshak” activities and claims to have rescued thousands of cows, frequently using inflammatory rhetoric in support of cow protection.
The development comes just a day before the scheduled election of the BJP’s new Telangana president on 1 July. Party sources have indicated that Ramachander Rao has been asked by the central leadership to file his nomination at 2 pm on 30 June.
With no other contenders expected, his appointment is likely to be unopposed.
Rao’s selection has surprised many within the party, as Eatala Rajender – a prominent Backward Class leader and former minister – was widely seen as the frontrunner. Other names discussed included MPs Dharmapuri Arvind and K Laxman.
Party insiders earlier suggested that the BJP was aiming to project a BC leader to counter the Congress, which is advocating 42 percent reservations for BCs in education, employment, and local governance.
Singh’s resignation underscores growing internal dissent at a time when the BJP is looking to consolidate its base and expand its footprint across Telangana.
The party had secured eight Assembly and eight Lok Sabha seats in the recent elections, and its leadership is hoping the new state chief will lead it effectively into the upcoming panchayat polls.
With Singh’s departure, the BJP loses one of its most recognisable faces in the Telangana Assembly. His next political move remains unclear.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
