Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy during an official programme in Hyderabad last week to join hands with the Centre for the development of the state appears to have created tremors among state Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.
This was evident from the controversial comments made by Nizamabad BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind at a press meet on Monday.
He openly expressed suspicion that there could be some form of understanding between Modi and Revanth Reddy.
Arvind suspected that Revanth Reddy might, in future, become another Suvendu Adhikari. Suvendu, the present West Bengal Chief Minister, had revolted against his former boss and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, later joined the BJP and eventually defeated her to come to power.
Analysts say such statements indirectly undermine the BJP’s own Telangana leadership by implying that the Prime Minister may have greater confidence in Revanth Reddy than in the state BJP leaders.
According to an analyst, Arvind’s comments amount to criticism of his own party leadership and reflect internal dissatisfaction within the BJP’s Telangana unit. They also indicate factionalism within the Telangana BJP, pointing to divisions among party MPs and leaders.
The Telangana BJP is already facing groupism, with some leaders engaging in internal power struggles instead of strengthening the party organisationally.
“Questioning Modi’s call to Revanth Reddy to join hands with him clearly indicates the inferiority complex among BJP leaders, who are apprehensive that Revanth Reddy is capable of becoming another Suvendu Adhikari,” the analyst said.
What BJP leaders seem to be forgetting is that political position is ultimately determined by public mandate and leadership success, not by expressing doubts over the Chief Minister and his capabilities.
