BJP biggies, turncoats vie for Rajya Sabha seat

Hyderabad: With the BJP central party contemplating accommodating one from the state BJP under Uttar Pradesh quota to Rajya Sabha, the state unit is facing a peculiar situation now.

Most of the leaders, who have been somewhat dormant, have jumped into the fray and are busy in intense lobbying. The list of aspirants includes even those who had joined the party recently.

According to sources, among those who are trying their luck for the single seat are Garikapati Rammohan Rao, DK Aruna and A P Jitender Reddy. UP is set to go for biennial elections for nearly 10 MP seats soon. One from Telangana will be accommodated in Rajya Sabha.

Currently, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy is the only elected Lok Sabha MP from Telangana in Parliament. There is no representation of anyone from Telangana in Rajya Sabha.

This move of BJP would help sending one from Telangana to Rajya Sabha, the state leaders feel. In the undivided Andhra Pradesh, Vice-President of India M Venkaiah Naidu was the lone Telugu leader who was elected to Rajya Sabha for several years though from different states.

After the formation of Telangana, the demand for an MP post in the Upper House came to the fore, but because lack of adequate representation in the State Assembly here, it did not become possible.

Party sources said that Rammohan Rao has been given the assurance of MP post at the time of joining the BJP soon after the last Lok Sabha elections. Jitender Reddy and Aruna, who joined the BJP before the Lok Sabha elections, are also trying hard to get the MP post.

There are senior leaders like Muralidhar Rao and Indrasena Reddy who are also in the race. It remains to be seen whom the high command would choose.

It is learnt that Jitender Reddy and Aruna assured the party high command that they will consolidate the party if given an opportunity of serving the party in the capacity of an MP.

Speculations are also rife that Muralidhar Rao is vying for a berth in the Union cabinet in the next reshuffle and he may get the MP post before or after the rejig of the Central Cabinet.