RISE OF SAFFRON BRIGADE IN TS: An undercurrent of fear among TRS leaders?

Hyderabad: There is a discussion among TRS leaders on possible threat from Telangana BJP even as Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has asked party leaders not to respond to any criticism by leaders of the Saffron party.

The TRS leaders feel that after decimation of the Telugu Desam and Congress in the state, the BJP would become an alternative to the party and the issue coming in the discussion in the party's state executive committee meeting gives an indication when KCR asked the party leaders not to respond to the criticism of the BJP leaders.

He had told the party leaders that the BJP leaders would make noise for a few days and later calm down. However, the party leaders feel that they would have to counter the BJP resisting the 'Operation Akarsh' by the Saffron party to gain strength in the state.

Scores of leaders from the Telugu Desam and Congress have joined the BJP and there are more leaders to follow. According to the TRS leaders, the change in the stance taken by their party chief against the Centre is also something to do with the caution given by him to the party leaders.

During the first tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister had good relations with the Centre. However, after Modi took charge as the Prime Minister for the second time, the TRS chief is yet to meet him. Of late, the Pink party leaders have been targeting the BJP leaders in press conferences. Recently, party leader K Prabhakar and others lashed out at the BJP leaders for giving religious colour to small incidents in the state.

A senior leader of the party said that the BJP may become the main Opposition especially after the other two Opposition parties losing their base. "The TDP leaders are lining up to join the BJP and there is a talk of senior Congress leaders too are interested in joining the BJP and in such case, the party may have to face competition from the Saffron party," opined the TRS leaders. However, the TRS leader said that with a few ZPTCs and one MLA, there is nothing to worry as of now and people of the state have faith in TRS chief KCR.