Marthi Subrahmanyam
Hyderabad
The strategy adopted by the new BJP State unit president G Kishan Reddy to rope in film actress-turned-politician Jayasudha into the BJP has apparently boomeranged.
Kishan Reddy’s reported decision him to field Jayasudha from one of the two Assembly segments in Secunderabad which form part of his Lok Sabha constituency has led to dissensions in the party. It is likely to be strongly opposed by the group led by Banaru Dattatreya and Kishan Reddy may antagonise party senior leaders in the two Assembly segments. It may fuel revolt in the party.
The seniors of the two Assembly segments in Musheerabad and Secunderabad are incensed by the development.
Kishan Reddy by taking the help of N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who recently joined the BJP, held consultations with Jayasudha were said to have borne fruit.
Word has it that Kishan Reddy is encouraging Jayasudha to join the BJP in a bid to checkmate former MP and BJP leader Vijayashanti, who, it is said, is reportedly angry over Kiran Kumar Reddy playing a significant role in the party. Her opposition to Kiran Kumar Reddy, as per her tweet, stemmed from the fact that he had opposed statehood to Telangana. She made no bones of her dislike towards Kirsan Kumar Reddy because he opposed statehood to Telangana. It is pertinent to note that she has not so far criticised the BRS government, like her party leaders, over the “regime’s failure in relief operations in the rain-hit district.”
The BJP leaders, including Kishan Reddy, accused the government of failure to take precautionary measures to protect the lives of people.
The BJP leaders in Secunderabad Assembly are reportedly angry over imposing Jayasudha on the Secunderabad Assembly constituency. The BJP leaders recalled that Jayasudha encountered opposition even when she was fielded by the Congress from the Secunderabad constituency. In fact, the local leaders had complained to the then chief minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
The BJP leaders described the move to field Jayasudha, a Christian, from Secunderabad as ridiculous. They said that she had changed many parties after she lost the election from the Secunderabad constituency in 2014.
According to BJP sources, the party leadership may field Jayasudha from Musheerabad constituency. But the only hitch to go ahead with the decision, the BJP leaders said, is that Vijayalakshmi, daughter of Bandaru Dattatreya, is projected as the likely candidate from Musheerabad constituency. BJP MP Lakshman is also drumming up support for Vijayalakshmi’s candidature.
