Former TSRTC chief quits TRS, likely to join BJP

Hyderabad: The BJP seems to be going aggressive with its 'Operation Akarsh' in trying to win over all those who are not happy with the TRS party.

The ruling party so far has been very confident that the BJP's game-plan will not work in Telangana but in a rude shock to the pink party, former TSRTC chairman Somarapu Satyanarayana resigned from the party.

Unconfirmed reports said that he was negotiating with the BJP and is likely to join the saffron party soon. His resignation just ahead of the municipal elections assumes political significance.

Announcing his resignation from the TRS, the 75-year-old Satyanarayana alleged that there was no internal democracy in the party and that it was being run like a monarchy. He, however, did not name KT Rama Rao or KCR.

"There is no freedom even for seniors like me to take up party activities in my constituency. I have not been given any role even in the ongoing membership drive and the leadership did not even give me membership forms," he told reporters.

A some leaders like Chennur MLA Balka Suman had insulted him. He also alleged that Suman had conspired to defeat him in the recent Assembly elections.

Satyanarayana said that a section of TRS leaders were harassing him and his followers with the support of local police.

Reacting to this, Suman said there was no way he would work against the party candidate and defeat him. "I am a disciplined soldier of the party.

I was concentrating on my own election from Chennur and I had no business to interfere in Ramagundam," he said.

Satyanarayana represented Ramagundam assembly constituency in Peddapalli district twice between 2009 and 2018.

He was defeated in the December 7 assembly elections by a party rebel K Chander Rao, who later joined the TRS. Since then, Satyanarayana had been sulking in the party.

He thanked the chief minister for giving him the post of TSRTC chairman and added that he would disclose about the action plan after discussing with his followers.

Ramagundam MLA Chander Rao alleged that Satyanarayana was indulging in opportunistic politics. He further alleged that Satyanarayana worked against the party in the recent Sarpanch elections.