Rama Krishna Sangem
BRS working president and IT and Municipal Minister KT Rama Rao has stepped into pacify the MLAs who are denied party tickets in the upcoming Telangana assembly assembly elections. Party supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on August 21 announced 115 candidates for 119 strong assembly. As many as 6 sitting MLAs are denied tickets while another dozen aspirants are sulking since then.
A major success of KTR’s negotiating skills is on display on September 22, Friday, when he brought a compromise between warring Dalit leaders of Warangal district – sitting MLA from Station Ghanpur (SC) Dr Rajaiah and BRS MLC Kadiam Srihari, who is named as the candidate the seat. Both are former deputy CMs. They are quarreling openly for the last several years, since Srihari replaced Rajaiah as Dy CM eight years ago.
Hurt over arch rival Srihari getting ticket from Station Ghanpur, Dr Rajaiah openly declared that he would chalk out his future course of action in a few days. He was offered the same seat by Congress leaders. Some BJP leaders too tried to woo Rajaiah to their side. However, it is KTR who got in touch with Dr Rajaiah and persuaded him to stay with BRS and work for Srihari. Dr Rajaiah agreed to that.
According to sources, Dr Rajaiah will be made chairman of Telangana Rythu Samanvaya Samithi, once the post is vacated by MLC Palla Rajeswar Reddy, who will get Jangoan assembly seat. Sitting Jangoan MLA Muttireddy Yadagiri Reddy is offered MLC seat in lieu of supporting Rajeswar Reddy. So, Rajeswar Reddy’s two posts will be shared by Dr Rajaiah and Yadagiri Reddy.
KTR hons negotiating skills
Talking it out to party rebels is not new to KTR. He has been doing it since Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation HMC elections two years ago. KTR has developed a style of his own in talking to those who go into sulking over denial of tickets, say people close to him. “He (KTR) patiently listens to the rebels and then promises to take their feelings to the notice of party president and CM KCR. And he follows it up with feedback, from the Boss” said a BRS MLC.
This time too, KTR is busy sorting out rebels issue in old Karimnagar and Warangal districts and will soon handle problems in other districts too, said sources. CM KCR has entrusted KTR with placating rebels who are not happy over tickets. Even KCR is not in a position to accommodate a large number of aspirants for a limited number of seats. The demands of those who join BRS later too puts pressure on CM KCR.
One takeaway of KTR’s success in firefighting in the party shows the rebels confidence in KCR coming back to power for a third term. Otherwise, however much one tries, they will not stay. Take for example, Uppal MLA Beti Subhash Reddy – even after denied ticket he has decided to stay with BRS. So is former Hyderabad mayor Bonthu Rammohan. Most of the rebels enjoy personal rapport with KTR. That helps KTR to persuade them to fall in line with the decisions of CM KCR.
