Has Bharatiya Janata Party made a big mistake in conceding the request of former minister and party national executive committee member Eatala Rajender to contest from Gajwel assembly constituency, along with his original Huzurabad constituency?
First of all, according to party sources, the decision to give two tickets to Eatala from two different constituencies has caused a lot of heartburn within the party leaders, who have not been happy with the importance being given to a new comer like him.
“It is an exception given only to a few people like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who contested from Varanasi and Vadodara in 2014. Secondly, it has also given the impression that the BJP has not been able to find a strong candidate against Telangana chief minister and BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao in Gajwel,” a party leader said.
It also indicated the arrogance of Eatala to prove that he is the only leader in the party who can take on KCR. Apparently, Eatala thinks he enjoys the support of BC community votes, especially Mudiraj.
He has been highlighting the fact that BRS did not allot a single seat for the community. A few days ago, he had held a massive public meeting of the Mudiraj community where slogans of “CM Eatala” rented the air.
There is also a talk within the party that giving the party ticket to Eatala from Gajwel could even be part of an understanding between the BJP and the BRS.
Apparently, KCR felt that the Congress gained a lot of ground in Gajwel in the recent past and if the BJP field a stronger candidate, it will split the anti-establishment votes.
However, analysts say Eatala, once a trusted lieutenant of KCR, may have to face a “Na Ghar Ka, Na Ghat Ka” (Neither here nor there situation), if he contests from Gajwel and also Huzurabad seats simultaneously.
While Eatala is certain to lose the Gajwel seat, he may find it difficult to win even Huzurabad, as he won’t be able to concentrate on both the constituencies.
“Perhaps, it is also a strategy of KCR, in understanding with the BJP, to see that his protégé in the past would fade out after the elections,” the analyst added.
