Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who is also the president of the BRS party, announced the party's list of 115 candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls well in advance.
However, this move failed to quell the dissent within the party. One such constituency experiencing internal strife is Tandur, where the incumbent MLA, Pilot Rohith Reddy, and MLC Patnam Mahender Reddy have been embroiled in a fierce political battle for the party ticket.
In the end, KCR chose to nominate the sitting MLA, Pilot Rohith Reddy, as the BRS candidate for Tandur in the upcoming Assembly polls.
To appease Patnam, KCR reportedly offered him a cabinet minister position, which is expected to be confirmed in the next day or two.
Political observers view KCR's maneuver as a 'giant jest' being played on Patnam.
This perception arises because the current term of the KCR government will conclude in just three months, and the government's operations are expected to cease from October when the Election Commission is anticipated to issue the Assembly poll notification.
Essentially, this means that the KCR government will function for just one more month in September.
Furthermore, officials are unlikely to heed any orders issued by ministers or MLAs in the three months leading up to the Assembly polls.
Ministers will be preoccupied with election-related duties in their respective districts, and they won't be visiting the Secretariat to carry out their usual functions.
In this context, the question arises as to the practical utility of appointing Patnam Mahender Reddy as a minister at this stage when ministers and MLAs hold little significance before elections.
Reportedly, Patnam's supporters are urging him to decline the cabinet minister offer, as they believe he would be subject to ridicule if he assumes the role at a time when ministers and MLAs hold limited power before elections.
They are pressuring Patnam to join the Congress party and contest the elections to deliver a resounding message to KCR and Rohith Reddy.
