BJP leaders’ silence leaves Bandi alone

BJP leaders show dissent against state party chief with silence over Mynampally’s abusive remarks

Any verbal attack on Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao lifts the entire ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti into a frenzy and swift comes an immediate and befitting response. Any criticism of even the Telangana state Congress leadership is also inviting a coordinated and passionate response.

But the BJP state president Bandi Sanjay is left to fend for himself and fight back on his own as and when such a situation arises for him. This lack of substantial support for him from his own partymen became apparent when several leaders remained silent over lewd comments and abusive statements came against Sanjay from TRS MLA Mynampally Hanumantha Rao three days ago.

A growing unease over Bandi's leadership in the state party is palpable.

Notably, Hanumantha

Rao had abused Sanjay after an alleged attack on BJP corporator Sravan Kumar at the Independence Day celebrations at Neredmet.

After Sanjay flayed the MLA for his "hooliganism", Hanumantha Rao reacted in the most vituperative language. He lashed out at Sanjay and warned that he would show his strength to blunt Sanjay's political edge.

The BJP leaders remained a silent spectator. No senior BJP leader condemned Hanumantha Rao and nor did they support their party chief. Senior leaders including party OBC Morcha president K Laxman, party vicepresident DK Aruna, parliamentarians Dharmapuri Arvind and Soyam Bapu Rao, former MLAs, and other senior leaders did not take note at all.

Rather, BJP sources revealed, most leaders tried to distance themselves from the controversy. In fact, several leaders who were not happy with Sanjay's leadership for several months are now happy to find him cornered.

Only MLA Raja Singh and a few corporators addressed the press and condemned the statements of the TRS MLA.

Junior leaders and youth morcha leaders protested against Hanumantha Rao's comments and demanded his arrest.

Party sources said senior leaders were asked to address a press meet and counterattack Hanumantha Rao but they avoided doing so. A BJP general secretary conceded that there is infighting in the prty. He said leaders maintained a distance from Sanjay for several months now.

Seniors say Sanjay failed to coordinate with leaders and could not take everyone along with him. He stays aloof, does not meet media persons and is reluctant to reach out.

Sanjay, according to another source, does not delegate, share responsibilities or encourage discussions. He does not involve all leaders in party programmes, avoids old party loyalists, while planning political programmes or activities, it is alleged.

A former MP said that though the state party president was given several ideas to fight against the TRS and expose the chief minister for his failures, Sanjay did not respond.

Several senior leaders expressed dissatisfaction about Sanjay's styles. "He does not take suggestions of former ministers and MLAs, and avoids seeking their advice. He showed a lack of leadership skills, including in the exit of Motkupalli Narasimhulu and the entry of Etala Rajendar," these leaders said.

Some leaders also criticised the "wrong" strategy of Sanjay in not taking Huzurabad seriously. This is a bypoll that could be a tipping point in Telangana politics.

Meanwhile, leaders who are in favour of Sanjay said they would complain to party president J.P. Nadda about some party leaders' lack of cooperation with the party president.