Rama Krishna Sangem
Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Telangana BJP president, got a big boost from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 3. Sanjay, Karimnagar MP, now will continue to lead the party till the next assembly elections in the State in 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pat on Sanjay’s shoulder at the party public meeting at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad has come as a boost to him.
For the last few weeks there is a campaign within Telangana BJP that there would be some change in the leadership at the State level, as Sanjay is unable to take along all. The rumors predicted that Sanjay will replaced by either Union Minister G Kishan Reddy or some senior like Etela Rajender, Huzurabad MLA. Now the rumors will set at rest.
There is some reason for this speculation. Sanjay who was a division member of Karimnagar Municipal Corporatoin before he won as MP in 2019 lagged behind on certain aspects while leading the party. Most of the Telangana BJP leaders are either seniors to him or stronger in terms or money power or political stature.
Sanjay is known to be a loner within the party, as he lacked in experience in taking others along. At the same time, many disgruntled elements from other parties, particularly Congress and TRS joined BJP and they appeared taller than him. Seniors like former MPs AP Jitender Reddy, Vivek Venkataswamy, Garikapati Mohan Rao, former minister DK Aruna are too seniors to Sanjay.
The sudden wins of BJP in Dubbaka and Huzurabad assembly seats and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has seen entry of a large number of new comers into the party. Sanjay is believed to have been confused in adjusting with them all. Sanjay, according to insiders, also couldn’t coordinate well with leaders Dr K Laxman, now RS MP.
All these pieces of information led to a campaign that some senior leader like Kishan Reddy may take Sanjay’s place. However, Sanjay has proved organizational skills in the just held BJP National Executive meetings in Hyderabad. The party national leaders carefully projected him at every stage as the State president.
PM Modi’s pat, expressing his happiness over the good crowds at the public meeting, on Sanjay shoulder has dispelled all such campaign –that he will be replaced. Modi’s backing also helped Sanjay assert himself within the party. Now on, all seniors in the party will have to accept him as a full-fledged leader. He will have a big say in distribution of party tickets in the coming elections.
