HYDERABAD: Dismissing speculation about his possible return to the BRS, Malkajgiri BJP MP Eatala Rajender has asserted that he had no intention of switching sides.
Addressing a news conference at his residence in Shameerpet on Sunday, Rajender said it would be inconsistent for him to consider defection when he had consistently opposed the practice.
“Changing parties is not as easy as changing clothes,” he remarked, recalling that former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao had expelled him from the BRS five years ago, subjecting him to considerable hardship.
He disclosed that he had earlier received an invitation from the Congress, with the prospect of becoming a deputy chief minister or a minister if he joined alongside leaders such as Jupally Krishna Rao, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy.
However, he said he chose to remain with the BJP. He also recalled an earlier offer from former Andhra Pradesh chief minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who had reportedly invited him to join his party with a ministerial berth offer. Rajender said he declined the offer and chose to stay committed to the Telangana movement.
Noting that some leaders had once advised him to join the Congress to defeat KCR, a move that could have secured him top positions, Rajender maintained that he had never been driven by the lure of office.
On the upcoming GHMC elections, he expressed confidence of a BJP victory, while acknowledging that internal competition exists in all parties. He said candidate selection would be based on winnability rather than personal preference, and affirmed that he would abide by the party’s decisions. He said that he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding issues concerning his parliamentary constituency, including the allocation of CSR funds.
Rajender also criticised Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, alleging that he came to power on “false promises” and continues to govern the state on the same basis. He questioned why alleged corruption during the previous government’s tenure had not been addressed despite earlier assurances.