Will Eatela Rajender's exit from TRS alter Telangana political landscape?
When Eatela Rajender was sacked by Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao six weeks ago, a few eyebrows went up within the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS). Because those who tracked the internal dynamics of the ruling party knew it was a matter of time before the Health minister was shown the door. The question asked, therefore, was not "Why?'' but "Why so late?'' Rajender was KCR's Finance minister between 2014 and 2018. Towards the end of the first term, relations between the two leaders had soured. In fact, when he was inducted into the cabinet again in 2019, this time as Health minister, many were surprised. The rumour mills which worked overtime to target Rajender had it that the 57-year-old leader was a Trojan horse who had opened up a front with political rivals. On Monday, Rajender formally joined the BJP. The next few weeks in the run-up to the byelection to the Huzurabad assembly constituency - the seat he resigned from - will test Rajender. The TRS, as is its wont, is certain to deploy all its manpower and resources to win the contest. A win for Rajender will elevate his stature, a defeat will consign him to the footnotes of Telangana political history. Since the days of the Telangana movement, he has been a leading light of the TRS and was a trusted lieutenant of KCR during the agitation. Articulate in both Telugu and Hindi, he was often fielded to express the separatist viewpoint during the agitation. He hailed from the Karimnagar district, politically one of the most important districts in north Telangana. A critic told this writer that KCR's mindset is similar to Queen Sivagami, the character played by actor Ramya Krishna in 'Baahubali'. In the movie, she says "Idhi naa maata naa maate shaasanam'' (This is my word and my word is the law). KCR too, is reported not to brook any dissent or a potential rival within TRS. Rajender's error of judgement was to claim ownership of the TRS, taking a dig at leaders who joined the party after it came to power in 2014. His criticism of Rythu Bandhu scheme for farmers - KCR's pet scheme - was not appreciated. Fingers were pointed at him for allegedly leaking details of the CM's meeting with district collectors in 2019 to discuss the new Revenue Act. The induction of G Kamalakar, his arch rival within the TRS, was seen as a warning to Rajender that he was being cut to size. Former Telangana minister Eatala Rajender with his supporters in Hyderabad on Saturday (Photo Credits: PTI)  Not that Rajender did not see it coming. Realising that he was being spoken of as a thorn in KCR's plan to pass on the baton to son KT Rama Rao earlier this year, Rajender openly supported KTR's ascension. But Rajender was also seen as mobilising his BC community support for himself in his bid to emerge as the tallest leader in the TRS outside the KCR family. By removing him unceremoniously, KCR has sent a message to the rank and file of the party - that if someone as senior as Rajender can be thrown out of the cabinet, no one can claim political immunity. In order to take the moral high ground, KCR removed Rajender on charges of land grabbing for his poultry business. Overnight, an enquiry was ordered. It was only after the Telangana High court intervened, that the action that many say reeked of vendetta politics was halted. Rajender's options, frankly, were limited. With KCR determined to let the investigating agencies loose on him, Rajender knew the Congress party, with whom he is more inclined ideologically, would not be able to provide cover. That made him rush into the arms of the BJP, which was happy to induct him straight away. Rajender will be used by the BJP to target KCR and his style of functioning. What that narrative will be, is apparent. Soon after he quit, Rajender said, "It is not Pragathi Bhavan (the CM's official residence) where the CM is staying, it is a home of slaves. Many ministers in KCR's cabinet are treated as slaves. I do not want a no self-respect minister's post.'' Former Telangana minister Eatala Rajender meeting BJP president JP Nadda in New Delhi on Monday (Photo Credits: PTI)  But the moment Rajender said yes, something seemed to have changed within the BJP. Though Rajender tried to make his induction into the BJP a high-profile event by flying to Delhi by chartering a flight with over one hundred and eighty of his supporters, the optics in the national capital were a let-down. Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, not exactly very senior in the BJP pecking order, was tasked with welcoming him. Within the BJP, there isn't much enthusiasm over its latest acquisition. The party has no ground strength to boast of in Huzurabad and knows even if Rajender wins, no credit will accrue to the BJP. Besides, his inability to bring any TRS MLAs with him, shows there was no support within the ruling party for him. Also, the internal dynamics within the Telangana unit of the BJP would ensure Rajender is not allowed to emerge as competition to the established political faces. Even from the national point of view, while the BJP would like to emerge as the main political rival to the TRS in Telangana, it knows that it may need the support of neutral players like KCR in the event of falling short of numbers in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This equation would checkmate any political ambitions Rajender may have. In terms of perception, yes. But in practical terms, unless he manages an upset win in Huzurabad, it is unlikely to have any significant effect. He can claim he quit for the sake of self-respect, unlike former deputy chief minister and Health minister T Rajaiah, who was sacked by KCR in January 2015, reportedly on grounds of corruption. Rajaiah continues to be in the TRS, his wings clipped. Or even like Finance minister Harish Rao, who did not rebel against uncle KCR even when he was sidelined for many months. The fact is that for all his talk of self-respect, Rajender continued as minister till KCR pressed the 'Eject' button.