Hyderabad: Dissatisfaction is brewing among BJP stalwarts in Telangana, with some leaders unhappy with the allotment of Lok Sabha tickets to “parachute leaders”.
Many veterans in BJP are feeling sidelined as importance is being given to newcomers. Many BJP veterans, who have been with the party for more than two decades, were hopeful of a ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, his aspirations were dashed when the party chose to field newcomers, mainly former BRS MPs and MLAs, in constituencies like Zaheerabad, Adilabad, Nagarkurnool, Mahabubabad, Peddapalli, Warangal and Nalgonda.
This has widened the gap between veterans and newcomers in the party, increasing tensions among the state leadership. In an effort to quell the unrest, the party leadership has contacted disgruntled veterans and urged them to work together with the candidates and ensure a minimum of eight seats for the party in Telangana.
The disgruntled veterans also include Adilabad’s sitting MP Soyam Bapu Rao, who is unhappy with the party’s decision to nominate Godem Nagesh in his place. Bapu Rao’s dissatisfaction has increased the concern, as the BJP is in danger of losing its stronghold of Adilabad.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Suryapet district president has filed a complaint against the party’s Nalgonda candidate and former MLA S Sayeedi Reddy, accusing him of harassing her while she was in BRS. The district president’s dissatisfaction reflects the widespread dissatisfaction within the party over the allotment of tickets to newcomers.
