Telangana BJP dispute: MLA T. Raja Singh resigns over party president appointment

The Telangana wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday saw an internal tussle as MLA Raja Singh wrote to Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy that he was resigning from the party's primary membership, incensed at the possible appointment of Ramchander Rao as its president.  

Reddy is currently the BJP state chief, and the party high command is likely to announce new successor on Tuesday. 

Singh explained that the decision to appoint the Rao as the head of the party in the state had come as a rude shock not just for him, but for lakhs of Karyakartas, leaders, and voters who had stood by the party through its highs and lows.

"With great sadness, I have decided to resign from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party. I request you, Shri Kishan Reddy ji, to kindly inform the Hon'ble Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly that T Raja Singh is no longer a member of the BJP," he said in the letter, posted on X.

ALSO READ | Telangana: Why did T. Raja Singh resign? Full transcript of Goshamahal MLA's letter to BJP state president

“There are many capable senior leaders, MLAs, and MPs within our state who have tirelessly worked for the growth of BJP and who have the strength, credibility, and connect to lead the party forward,” he added. However, he also clarified that he would still be committed to “the Hindu community”.

Thakur Raja Singh, who is currently an MLA for the Goshamahal Assembly constituency, is known for his vitriolic speeches, and has also faced criminal cases in the past. 

As recently as April this year, two cases were registered against him for allegedly using unparliamentary language and even issuing criminal intimidation to the police during a Ram Navami procession, a Hindustan Times report said.

India