Suspended firebrand MLA from Goshamahal assembly constituency T Raja Singh is unlikely to return to the Bharatiya Janata Party, even as the elections to the state assembly are fast approaching.
According to sources, the state BJP leadership led by G Kishan Reddy made a strong recommendation to the national party leadership to revoke the suspension on Raja Singh, but the high command has turned down the recommendation.
Apparently, the BJP central leadership is reportedly under pressure from external quarters.
The MLA was suspended by the party high command for making derogatory remarks against a particular religion in August last year.
Party sources said that if the party leadership revoked the suspension of Raja Singh, then there would be demands for revoking the suspension of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and BJP Delhi media head Naveen Kumar Jindal as well, after their alleged controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad that triggered protests and condemnations.
The sources said since the party could not revoke the suspension of Raja Singh, it was considering fielding Vikram Goud, son of former minister, the late Mukesh Goud from Goshamahal.
Though Raja Singh had expressed confidence that the party would revoke his suspension and renominate him from Goshamahal, party sources said the party leadership had made up its mind to allot the Goshamahal ticket to Vikram Goud.
The sources said Raja Singh too was aware that his suspension would not be revoked in the near future. There was also speculation that Raja Singh was planning to leave the party and join the Bharat Rashtra Samiithi (BRS), which he later denied and clarified that he had no intention to leave the party.
“If the party does not revoke my suspension, I may take a break from politics for some time and work for the welfare of the Hindu nation. But I will never leave BJP and go to any other party,” he had said.