HYDERABAD: As soon as he took over as the state BJP president on Tuesday, N Ramchander Rao warned social media trolls of legal consequences if they continue to target the BJP and himself.
Cautioning people not to mistake his soft demeanour for weakness, he said it belies his inner strength and fighting spirit and added: “Some social media trolls have been targeting the BJP and some are targeting me by using words like ‘dummy’. I want to remind them that I’m a criminal lawyer. I will ensure that they go to jail if they continue to troll my party and me.”
On Tuesday, BJP election returning officer Shoba Karandalje announced the unanimous election of Ramchander Rao as the new state unit president, following which the latter took charge from the outgoing president G Kishan Reddy at a private function hall in Manneguda in Chevella.
Speaking on the occasion, Ramchander said that he will be functioning not like a state unit president but work hard like party cadre.
“Our hardworking cadre are our presidents. Let’s all work with coordination and commitment to strengthen the party and ensure it wins the next Assembly elections to form the government in the state.”
“Our aim should be to hoist the flag on the Golconda Fort after the next Assembly elections,” he added.
While thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and organisational general secretary BL Santhosh for giving him the opportunity to serve the party as the state president, he promised to consult senior leaders like Kishan Reddy, K Laxman and Bandi Sanjay Kumar and consider their suggestions to take the party forward.
Stating that despite his soft exterior he possesses a steely resolve, Ramchander recalled his student days at the Osmania University, and his “fight against Naxalites” and how he faced several cases. “I always fought for party’s ideology. I went to jail 14 times. One of my hands was fractured when police resorted to lathi-charge during a protest against the government in front of the Assembly,” he said.
“I fought for the rights of students and advocates. Now, I’m ready to fight for people of Telangana,” he added.
Meanwhile, Union Coal & Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy congratulated Ramchander Rao. “Ramchander Rao is committed to the BJP’s ideology. He served the party in several capacities, right from his student days with the ABVP,” Kishan said while urging the cadre and leaders to work under the leadership of Ramchander to strengthen the party in the state.
Describing the party’s new state president as a “missile”, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay said: “Ramchander is a fearless personality. He fought against the ‘radicals’ without any fear during his student days at Osmania University.”