Revanth may be safe for now

SNCN ACHARYULU
Hyderabad

In the sensational note-for-vote case TPCC President Revanth Reddy may be safe for now. TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu who was in jail in the skill development case is indirectly protecting Revanth in this case.

Two days ago the Supreme Court dismissed a plea filed by Revanth Reddy in the not-for-vote   case seeking to allow cross-examination of all the witnesses including the de facto complainant at a time instead of various dates decided by the ACB court. After the Supreme Court’s verdict, political observers thought that the state government may take action in this case against Revanth ahead of the Assembly elections.

In the Telangana Assembly elections, the main rival of the BRS is the Congress. Political observers thought that ahead of the Assembly elections the state government may take action against Revanth to demoralise the Congress.

In Andhra Pradesh, the YSR government arrested TDP supremo Chandrababu ahead of Assembly elections to demoralise TDP cadres. In Telangana also the BRS government may do the same by taking action against Revanth. In this case, Revanth has already gone to jail and came out on bail. But Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is reportedly not in a hurry in this case Chandrababu is also involved.

Chandrababu’s name also figured in the preliminary charge sheet filed by the ACB but not as an accused. The ACB court is yet to take cognisance of the charge sheet. In these circumstances, if the state government takes action against Revanth in the note for vote case it has to take action against Chandrababu also.

Some sections of Seemandhra people are angry against Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for arresting Chandrababu. At the same time, they are also angry with the BJP as they strongly suspect the BJP had a hand behind the arrest of Chandrababu.

The Seemandhra people in Telangana strongly support the BRS. Ahead of the Assembly elections if the BRS government takes action against Chandrababu the Seemandhra people of Telangana may turn against the BRS.

The Jana Sena–TDP alliance is likely to contest in the Telangana Assembly elections. This may also affect the Seemandhra vote bank of the BRS. Keeping all this in mind Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has reportedly decided not to take any hasty step in this case.

If Chandrababu’s involvement is not there in this case the action against Revanth by KCR would have been different. If the action is confined to Revanth the opposition will say that the BRS government is protecting Chandrababu.

In the past, the BRS had alleged that Chandrababu had tried to topple their government. Moreover, the BRS has branded Chandrababu as anti-Telangana. This may become a headache for the BRS.