Will BJP Pick Raja Singh as Floor Leader in Telangana Assembly?

Hyderabad: In the recent Telangana assembly elections, the BJP won 8 seats out of 111 contested ones. After the rise in the party’s tally in the state legislative assembly, the BJP leadership is holding discussions on the choice for party's floor leader in the House. 

Among the 8 elected MLAs, Raja Singh is the senior legislator who represents Goshamahal assembly constituency. Interestingly, except him all sitting MLAs were defeated in the elections. This is the third time Raja Singh has been elected from Goshamahal segment. Senior party leaders Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Etala Rajender, D Arvind and Raghunandan Rao have lost the elections. 

With the BJP sending six first time MLAs to the assembly, the question that’s troubling the party is who will lead the party on the floor of the House? It is being reported that besides Raja Singh, two other MLAs — Alleti Maheswar Reddy (Nirmal) and K Venkata Rama Reddy (giant killer who defeated two chief ministers KCR and Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy) — are the frontrunners for the legislative post. 

For Raja Singh, the lack of command over Telugu language and little to no understanding of the problems of the state may spoil the chance of becoming a floor leader in the House. The saffron party may consider Venkata Rama Reddy over Raja Singh as he’s a working knowledge of the problems of the people. He was with the Congress before crossing over to the BJP ahead of Telangana assembly elections. 

The giant killer nickname may also work in Reddy’s favour as he speaks chaste Telugu and connected with the people of his constituency. He’s credited with taking up local issues in the Nizamabad district. He may have an edge over Goshamahal MLA, but the downside is he’s a first timer and largely unaware of the legislative proceedings in the House. 

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