REPORTER’S DAIRY : BRS social media wing’s dichotomy on Eatala Rajender

The recent dynamics within the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) reflect significant inconsistency with regard to Eatala Rajender. Once a trusted Health Minister, Rajender was dismissed by party president K Chandrasekhar Rao during the COVID-19 pandemic—a decision that many believe was based solely on KCR’s insights. Past is past. Now, following Rajender’s statement supporting former BRS MLA Patnam Narender Reddy’s arrest, the BRS’s social media factions have been vocal about wanting him back in the party. This shift is perplexing, especially since these same voices previously opposed the inclusion of ‘defectors’. Rajender’s victory in the by-election against BRS was anchored on the principle of ‘atma gouravam’ (self-respect). If BRS’s social media wing now suggests that KCR perhaps erred in dropping Rajender, it is tantamount to acknowledging that their leader is fallible. That would be far-fetched for KCR, who maintains that the electorate would eventually accept their misjudgment, often saying: “People will realize” or “People have realized what they lost.” This scenario pits leadership decisions against sentiments at the base level of the party. Insiders admit it is difficult to control the social media wing.