TRS to squeeze Etala out

Party not keen on expelling ex-minister, expects him to quit TRS, Assembly

The TRS leadership is adopting a cautious approach on former minister Etala Rajendar.

Though he was sacked from the Cabinet, the party leadership is not keen on expelling him from the party despite his criticism of TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. TRS insiders say that the party leadership wants Rajendar to resign from the party as well as the Assembly seat on his own and force a bypoll in the Huzurabad Assembly constituency.

The party wants to seek his disqualification from the Legislative Assembly if he joins any other party. There is a provision to seek disqualification even on the grounds of resorting to ‘antiparty activities’ or giving statements against the party and party president.

With absolute majority and Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy on its side, the TRS finds no difficulty in getting Rajendar disqualified.

The party leadership has been giving indications to Rajendar to resign on his own from

the beginning of this episode. It began with the party's own media exposing his alleged assigned land encroachments. It was reported on April 30 soon after polling for municipal elections concluded at 5 pm.

However, when Rajendar did not resign, Rao took over his health portfolio the very next day. Despite the setback Rajendar remained defiant, which forced the Chief Minister to dismiss him from the Cabinet on May 2.

Immediately thereafter, Rajendar visited his Huzurabad constituency and held discussions with his supporters until May 5. He has been issuing statements against party leadership accusing it of indulging in 'vendetta politics' against him.