Just as Etela Rajender was hoping to take charge of the Telangana BJP any day now, a notice from the Kaleshwaram Commission seems to have thrown a wrench into his plans. At a time when he was expecting an appointment letter from the BJP high command confirming his role as the state president, receiving a summons from the Commission instead has clearly come as an unwelcome development. For Etela, who was confident that he had Amit Shah’s blessings and believed the state presidency was his for the taking, this new twist has created fresh complications.
In light of these developments, the big questions are: Will the BJP go ahead with the state president appointment? And if they do, will it still go to Etela? Or will the party now say, “Sorry, boss”?
Technically, Etela could have turned the notice from the Kaleshwaram Commission into an advantage. He could have used it as ammunition against KCR, who once targeted him over assigned lands. But instead, Etela is directing his attacks at Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. While saying that he will cooperate with the Commission, he is also lashing out at Revanth, accusing him of committing the same mistakes KCR did — particularly with regard to the Devarayamjal land issue.
Etela has stated that he is not afraid of Revanth Reddy’s threats and warned the CM to remember that the BJP is in power at the Centre. On one hand, Etela claims he’s unshaken by intimidation — on the other hand, he seems to be issuing veiled threats of his own, reminding Revanth of the BJP’s central authority.
With this Commission notice, Etela is now facing two types of troubles. First, there’s concern that the inquiry might cast a shadow over his long-anticipated appointment as BJP state president. Second, he’s caught in a dilemma over what to say in front of the Commission. If he admits that KCR committed wrongdoings, it implicates him as well, since he was part of that Cabinet. But if he defends KCR, critics will accuse him of still standing by his former boss even after joining the BJP. Thus, Etela finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Perhaps that’s why he’s now launching attacks on Revanth Reddy — possibly as a strategy to shift focus or reclaim some political ground amid the pressure from the Commission.
