HYDERABAD: Differences have cropped up in BJP Telangana over the legislature party leader (BJLP) post and other issues. According to highly placed sources, senior BJP leader and MLA-elect T Raja Singh is upset over his name not being announced as BJLP leader. There were differences also over the party's move against pro-tem speaker Akbaruddin Owaisi.
"When the MLAs-elect met on Saturday, a few of them said that they should take oath, but Singh had already announced that MLAs will boycott the swearing-in ceremony being held under the aegis of an MIM leader. The matter was placed before the high command and they asked MLAs to take oath after a full-time speaker is appointed," the source said.
Raja Singh's contention was that he was the senior-most MLA and elected thrice in a row and baring Alleti Maheshwar Reddy, who is a two-term MLA, among the eight rest were first-time MLAs. "He also wanted a room for himself at the state party office as the room used by Indrasena Reddy, now Tripura governor, is vacant. After Saturday, he became incommunicado with party leaders," sources said.
At a press conference when asked about legislative party leader, state chief and Union minister G Kishan Reddy evaded a direct reply and said "when the decision is taken it will be informed, it is an internal matter". BJP had faced a similar situation during the previous assembly term as there was demand from three MLAs to announce them as BJLP leader. After Raja Singh was elected in 2018 elections, Eatala Rajendar and Raghunandan Rao got elected in subsequent bypolls. "Not wanting to upset any of them, then BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay did not take any decision and during the entire tenure, the party went without any BJLP leader. But this time, some decision has to be taken," a party leader said.
This time along with Raja Singh, Kamareddy MLA K Venkata Ramana Reddy and Maheshwar Reddy's names are doing rounds for the post. Both floor leader and deputy floor leader might be chosen from these names.
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