Patibandla Srinivas
(pnsjournalist@gmail.com)
The rift between MLAs Arekapudi Gandhi and P Koushik Reddy triggered a fresh setback to BRS (Bharata Rashtra Samiti) in Telangana’s capital Hyderabad. Already BRS is facing challenges following the defeat in the recent elections. The arrest of MLC Kavita, defections of several MLAs and senior leaders gave a big jolt politically to former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Now the fresh political controversy between two BRS elected MLAs Gandhi and Koushik Reddy has created new trouble to BRS particularly in Hyderabad city.
The BRS MLA Gandhi shifted his loyalties to Congress recently and got elected for Public Accounts Chairman’s position. MLA P Koushik Reddy who is continuing in the BRS party made sensational comments that he would hoist the BRS flag on the top of Gandhi’s residence. The Gandhi also reacted sharply and challenged him to do so. Both the leaders indulged in war of words. As part of it, BRS MLA Koushik Reddy raised the new controversy questioning Gandhi’s nativity as he belongs to Andhra region. The sensitive controversial point is all set to take a new political turn and BRS may face another fresh headache at the grass root level in Hyderabad city.
The BRS won surprisingly majority seats in Hyderabad in the recent Assembly elections though it had faced defeat in other parts in the Telangana State. Lakhs of Andhra settlers are living in Hyderabad city for decades. Contrary to the expectations, the majority of people of Andhra cast their votes in favour of BRS. As a result, the BRS and its alliance partners won 14 Assembly seats in the total of 15 seats in the city limits.
The Andhra settlers are a deciding factor in several Assembly constituencies. They extended their support to BRS though it was established with the Telangana slogan. The former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his son Taraka Rama Rao encouraged development in the city without regional disputes. It is one of the reasons the people of Andhra origin supported BRS. Contrary to it, now the MLA Koushik Reddy comments may turn out to be a setback to BRS in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal elections.
The BRS leadership did not react to the comments of Koushik Reddy. Already the BRS has had a bad experience with former minister K Taraka Rama Rao (KTR)’s comments against the protests of Andhra people during the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu. The BRS faced a big jolt in Nalgonda, Khammam districts with the comments of KTR. Even the people of Hyderabad expressed displeasure on KTR comments they extended support to BRS by taking into consideration of development. As per the whole political developments, the BRS may face another round of challenge in Hyderabad city with MLA Koushik Reddy regional comments.