Former deputy CM Dr T Rajaiah quits BRS, says not all is well with the pink party

Unhappy with ticket denial

Speaking to reporters after resigning, Rajaiah mentioned his indecision on which party to join, expressing dissatisfaction with the ongoing developments within the BRS. He lamented, “I could not meet KCR when the ticket was denied to me. I was marginalised in the party both at the constituency level and at the state level.”

Claiming there was immense pressure from his supporters urging him to reconsider staying with the BRS to avoid humiliation, Rajaiah highlighted his pivotal role in the BRS winning Ghanpur (Station) and Jangaon. “I played a key role in the BRS winning Ghanpur (Station) and Jangaon. This alone shows how committed I was to the party,” he said.

The former deputy chief minister expressed his discontent with the party’s direction post the Assembly elections. He criticised BRS leaders for claiming the ability to bring down the Congress government and stated, “They are saying that the BRS has 39 MLAs, the AIMIM 7, and the BJP 8, so together, they could topple the government and that KCR could become the chief minister once again. This is not proper as one could still remain in the Opposition and fight for the people,” he said.

Rajaiah emphasised the need to consult his followers across the state, considering his extensive tours as the convenor of the Madiga Porata Samiti and as a member of the Congress Forum for Telangana during his 15-year tenure in the Congress. “I was in the Congress for 15 years and as member of the Congress Forum for Telangana, I met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to seek separate statehood to Telangana,” he said.

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Where is he headed now?

Although Rajaiah didn’t disclose his new party affiliation, his criticisms of the BRS and praise for the Congress, along with his desire for a parliamentary ticket from the reserved SC constituency of Warangal, hinted at his intentions. The incumbent MP Pasunuri Dayakar of the BRS won the seat with a 3.5 lakh-vote majority in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, defeating Dommati Sambaiah of the Congress.

Rajaiah perceived the denial of the ticket in the recent Assembly elections as a personal calamity, especially since Ghanpur (Station), which he had nurtured meticulously, was handed to his adversary Kadiyam Srihari. Despite being appointed as the Chairman of the Rythu Samanaya Samiti, his joy was short-lived as the BRS lost power.

Rajaiah’s departure from the BRS is expected to impact the party, given his significant following among the Madigas.