BRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao expelled Etala Rajender from his party in May 2021.
KCR and Etala had been 'faithful friends' for two decades. They had worked together in the Telangana statehood agitation since 2001, came to power in 2014, with KCR serving as CM for two terms and including Etala in his cabinet for two terms.
However, their friendship abruptly ended in May 2021 when KCR removed Etala from his cabinet on charges of 'land encroachments'.
KCR even prevented Rajender from taking his seat in the Legislative Assembly, despite him winning from BJP in the Huzurabad bypoll in November 2021.
On the first day of every Assembly session, KCR had him suspended to ensure that he would not face Rajender in the Assembly.
But all of a sudden, both KCR and KTR are displaying an unusual affection towards Rajender.
Rajender recently issued a statement claiming that BRS MLC Kaushik Reddy had given a 20 crore supari (contract) to have him eliminated and that he was facing a life threat.
KTR promptly responded and directed DGP Anjani Kumar to enhance Rajender's security.
KCR also intervened later and instructed the DGP to increase Rajender's security.
On Friday, the DGP issued orders to provide Rajender with a bulletproof vehicle and 16 security personnel, granting him Y-category security, which is typically assigned to a cabinet minister. Starting from Saturday, Etala will be accompanied by 16 security personnel.
This has sparked a debate in political circles about whether KCR and KTR are treating Etala as a cabinet minister in KCR's government.
BRS MLC Kaushik Reddy also released a media statement alleging that Etala had conspired to kill him and had engaged in 'murder politics' in the past in the Huzurabad constituency when he was an MLA and minister in BRS.
However, there has been no response from KCR and KTR regarding Kaushik's life threat. Despite being a BRS MLC, poor Kaushik did not receive any additional security, whereas opposition BJP MLA Rajender was granted Y-category security.
There is speculation in political circles that KCR and KTR are attempting to entice Rajender back into the BRS fold, given reports that Rajender is not comfortable in the BJP and may be looking to leave the party at any time.