Former minister and Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from Huzurabad assembly constituency Eatala Rajender made a sensational announcement on Saturday – that he would contest the next assembly elections from Gajwel, which is represented by Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Eatala, who was once a protégé of KCR and held several positions in the TRS including party floor leader in the assembly, state finance minister and health minister in the Telangana cabinet, has been shunted out of the cabinet in May 2021 for alleged anti-party activities.
He later resigned from the TRS and the assembly membership before joining the BJP.
He contested the by-polls again from Huzurabad and won the seat with a huge mandate in November 2021. That gave a boost to the BJP in the state and a subsequent bitter war between KCR and the BJP leadership.
Now, Eatala declared that he is planning to shift from Huzurabad to Gajwel in the next elections.
“I have expressed my desire to contest from Gajwel to the party national leadership and they have readily accepted my decision,” he said.
In fact, the BJP doesn’t have a strong leader in Gajwel, who can match up to the stature of KCR. With Eatala himself has come forward to fight against the TRS chief, it is definitely hopeful of putting up a strong fight.
Eatala might be under the impression that if he is able to win the Gajwel seat by defeating KCR, he would get the nationwide recognition as a giant killer. That will put him in the driver’s seat and he could be in the race for the CM post if the BJP comes to power.
For the state BJP leadership, too, it is a good chance to put up a strong fight in Gajwel. If Eatala wins, it would be a plus point; but if he loses the battle, a major hurdle will be removed for many other aspirants in the race for CM post.
Sources, however, say Eatala might have consciously taken a decision to shift to Gajwel, after coming to know about the reports that KCR is also planning to shift to some other assembly constituency in Nalgonda district, apart from Medak parliamentary constituency to move to national politics.
In any case, it will be a victory for Eatala. If KCR is not there in the contest from Gajwel, it will be easier for Eatala to win the seat. He will get the recognition of forcing KCR leave the battle fearing him!
