Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party national leadership removed Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay as the Telangana BJP president, rumblings have surfaced in the party, as more leaders are expressing their unhappiness.
On Monday, former MP and senior tribal leader D Ravindra Naik accused the BJP leadership of insulting him by not giving him due importance during the public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Naik said though he had been in politics for over four decades, the state BJP leadership had ignored him during the PM’s meeting.
“I was an MP from Warangal. Still, I was not given importance by the State BJP leadership. My supporters and local leaders too felt humiliated,” he said.
The BJP leader also expressed displeasure over the party leadership not providing any key responsibility to him.
“I have been in politics since 1973. I was a minister, MLA and MP. Still the party is not giving me any key posts. The leadership is not utilising my experience to strengthen the party in the State,” he said.
Naik said he was not happy with the way Bandi Sanjay was removed from the party’s state president’s post.
“I don’t see any reason for replacing Bandi Sanjay,” he said, but said he won’t quit the party though he was not happy.
On Sunday, former minister and five-time MLA A Chandrashekar also kicked up a row by expressing his displeasure for being denied a pass to attend the Prime Minister’s public meeting at Warangal on Saturday.
He told reporters the BJP wants Dalit votes but would not give Dalit leaders importance in the party.
“I was elected MLA five times and I thrice served as a minister. Still, I was not given the pass. If this is the plight of a Dalit leader, what will be the fate of an ordinary Dalit?” he is said to have asked.
He also warned that if the party did not change its attitude, it would be difficult for it to grow in Telangana.
“If the party does not give importance to Dalits, how will it get their support in the polls?” he asked.
Chandrasekhar, too, said the party leadership has committed a grave mistake by replacing Sanjay, he said, adding that the rank and file of the party was against replacing Sanjay still the party high command succumbed to the pressure of a few leaders, he alleged.
Chandrashekar also found fault with the party leadership for appointing Huzurabad MLA Eatala Rajender as the party’s campaigning committee chairman.
He felt that the party leadership was giving undue importance to Eatala which was creating unrest among party leaders and cadres.