Padi Kaushik Reddy has got another elevation, with the Bharat Rashtra Samiti declaring him as the person in charge of the Huzurabad constituency.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is apparently clearing all roadblocks for Kaushik Reddy to take on Eatala Rajender.
Winds have been blowing in favour of Kaushik over the last two months. He was initially made Chief Whip and then Parliamentary in-charge all within a month. This comes just about two months after he used derogatory language against Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and later apologised after being summoned by the National Women’s Commission.
The present elevation comes in the backdrop of Gellu Srinivas being made Tourism Corporation Chairman, after he had lost against Eatala Rajender. Sources said that it was a clear message from the party to work together without competing against one another.
The differences between the BRS government and the Governor had first cropped up in 2021 when she did not approve the Cabinet’s recommendation to nominate Kaushik Reddy to the Legislative Council under the Governor’s quota in the social service category. As the Governor had delayed clearing the file, the BRS government sent Kaushik Reddy to the Upper House under the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) quota. After becoming MLC, Kaushik was regularly seen at Pragathi Bhavan with Chief Minister KCR.
Padi Kaushik Reddy’s candidature for the 2023 elections was the first to be officially announced by Minister KTR at a public meeting. Since the announcement of his candidature, Kaushik has been confined to the Huzurabad constituency. A month ago, he was made Govt Chief Whip.
Gellu Srinivas, considered potential rebel, has been given Tourism Corporation chairmanship as a placatory measure. Also BRS student wing president, Gellu Srinivas was in charge of the Huzurabad constituency.
Despite implementing Dalit Bandhu, BRS lost the byelection and Eatala won. KCR’s calculation of pitting Gellu Srinivas Yadav as the BC candidate in the by-elections did not work out. Kaushik Reddy, a relative of Uttam Kumar Reddy, got the ticket.
Former Congress leader, Padi Kaushik Reddy contested in 2018 and was defeated by Etala Rajender. But he joined BRS before the by-elections. A few days later, CM KCR gave Padi Kaushik Reddy an opportunity as an MLC.
