New Delhi (Agency): Union Minister G Kishan Reddy is confronted with a challenging task, having been appointed the new president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana. As the legislative assembly polls draw near, he must mobilize the party to meet head-on with formidable opponents – the ruling BRS and a reinvigorated Congress, fresh off a victory in Karnataka.
Kishan Reddy’s appointment comes at a tumultuous time, with his predecessor, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, recently ousted amidst internal discord within the party. This leadership shift, decided by the party’s central command, is hoped to quell the ongoing disputes within the BJP. Interestingly, Kishan Reddy has refrained from making any immediate public comment on his new role.
Sanjay Kumar, who assumed the party presidency in 2020, instilled vitality into the party ranks, driven by his strong adherence to Hindutva ideology. He led a spirited opposition against the BRS government and achieved commendable results in two assembly by-elections and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election. However, his leadership style reportedly clashed with other party leaders, including the newly appointed chairperson of the election management committee, MLA Eatala Rajender.
Kishan Reddy, who has previously led the party in the undivided Andhra Pradesh and later in Telangana, now has the onerous task of maintaining cohesion within the BJP while readying the party for the upcoming electoral showdowns. He must revitalize the party’s cadre, disgruntled due to internal discord within a party usually known for discipline.
Kishan Reddy will have to collaborate effectively with Rajender, a popular leader among the backward classes and former senior leader in BRS. Rajender, who joined the BJP in 2021 following his expulsion from the BRS cabinet over land-grabbing allegations, has a significant support base outside the BJP and is instrumental in uniting the party for elections.
Similarly, Rajender also has the task of harmonizing relations with the BJP veterans and the recent joiners. BJP spokesperson in Telangana, K Krishna Sagar Rao, has expressed confidence that Kishan Reddy’s appointment will resolve most conflicts among the party’s leaders. Rao underlined Reddy’s wealth of experience, his poised demeanor, and his ability to resolve issues, crediting him with the potential to bring the party back on track.
Despite the tough challenge of preparing the BJP for the Assembly elections, with powerful rivals BRS and Congress looming, Rao remains confident. He highlighted that Congress was not even a contender two months ago and suggested that a three-cornered contest could work to BJP’s advantage. He said, “In a three-cornered fight, we need to have only 35 to 37 percent for us to lead.”
Rao insisted that the public support for the BJP remains strong, with people viewing the party as a viable alternative to the ruling BRS. The party’s developmental agenda against a “family-run government” continues to resonate with the voters, he concluded.