The sudden decision of senior IPS officer Dr R S Praveen Kumar to opt for voluntary retirement from the government service on Monday has triggered a debate in the media circles.
According to the speculations in the media circles, Praveen Kumar is likely to join the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi shortly.
It is learnt he has put in his papers only at the instance of TRS president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
There is a talk that Praveen Kumar might be fielded as the party candidate from Huzurabad assembly constituency for the ensuing by-elections against former health minister Eatala Rajender who will the BJP candidate from the constituency.
Interestingly, the announcement of voluntary retirement by Praveen Kumar has come a day after the chief minister declared the launch of Rs 1,200 croe Dalit Bandhu scheme on a pilot basis from Huzurabad assembly constituency, obviously with an eye on the by-elections.
Praveen Kumar has been serving as the secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Institutions Society (TSWREIS) for the last nine years and associated with the Swaroes Movement of Dalits, which has grown into a big movement in Telangana in the last few years.
According to sources, Praveen Kumar has been toying with the idea of entering politics for quite some time as he feels it is the only way to serve a larger sections of the society.
His brother-in-law Dr M Anand, is already an MLA of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi from Vikarabad assembly constituency.
So, when KCR proposed his name for the Huzurabad assembly seat, he readily accepted it and announced taking of voluntary retirement.
“Huzurabad as 45 per cent Dalit voters. Praveen Kumar’s entry will be a game-changer in favour of the TRS,” sources said.
The outgoing IPS officer, however, told a channel that he has not yet decided on entering politics, let alone contesting from Huzurabad.
“Please allow me to take some break to settle my personal issues. After that, I will take a call. It is too early to talk about politics,” he said.
