As old timers side-lined, newcomers eye key positions

​Warangal: While the entrants in Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the district are managing to corner key positions and nominated posts, many of those associated with the party since its formation, are left to be disconcerted.

Their disquiet, though remained muffled till now, has grown bigger in the wake of recent announcement of names by the party high command for Rajya Sabha nominations. This is happening across erstwhile Warangal district in contrast to a section’s jubilation over increased representation to the district.

“It is welcome that the party high command is dutiful in ensuring due patronage to the district in offering the posts. What about us, who contributed to for the TRS took shape?” posed a senior leader, who associated with the party supremo K Chandrashekar Rao before the launch of the party.

Speaking to The Hans India, on the condition of anonymity, he said the same is the concern of several leaders, who have been affiliated with the party since its formation on April 27, 2001. “For 17 long years, we are with the party, working for its growth but we remain neglected when it comes to get a post while those joined the TRS from TDP and Congress are getting accommodated,” he noted.

Though the party leaders in question seldom open up publicly, they have been making use of every opportunity to get their due share in securing a nominated post or any position that offers a sort of protocol, but in vain.

With losing the chance of getting nominated to Rajya Sabha from the party, seniors in the district TRS are now pinning their hopes on MLC seats. It is said the term of three of MLCs nominated under the Governor quota is nearing completion and the leaders here are trying to make use of the opportunity.

According to the party sources, Jannu Jacharaiah, Medipalli Shobhan, Gudimalla Ravi Kumar, Takkellapally Ravinder Rao, Nagurla Venkateshwarlu and Karimilla Babu Rao are among those aspiring to get the MLC seats. They are all associated with the TRS since its formation.

Of the above, Jacharaiah and Shobhan, having Left wing background, worked with Chandrashekar Rao when the TRS was in its nascent stage and contributed for party’s construction at grassroots level while serving the party in difference capacities.

Jacharaiah, a labour union leader having a mass appeal among workers of various industries here, had served as National Minimum Wages Board chairman for a brief period when Chandrashekar Rao was in the union cabinet during 2004-06. But after that he never got any position.

Ravi Kumar, a lawyer, picked up for Warangal Parliament ticket in by-election in 2015 but failed to get the ticket due to technical reasons. The CM’s reported promise of offering suitable position remained unfulfilled. The same is the case of Ravinder Rao and Venkateshwarlu, who expected MLC seat on many occasions, but didn’t get it.