Gangula ministry gives him heft to fight Etala Rajendar

Hyderabad: A cold war seems to have started between the two ministers hailing from Karimnagar district. Both ministers are from the Backward Classes community and are trying to establish their dominance in district politics.

Senior minister Etala Rajendar has been with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti since it was set up while minister Gangula Kamalakar joined the party in 2013.

After the formation of Telangana state, Mr Rajendra was made finance minister in the first K. Chandrasekhar Rao government. Mr Kamalakar became a minister only in 2019, during Mr Rao’s second term. But Mr Kamalakar’s posting as BC welfare minister has given him added muscle.

Community leaders used to reach out to Mr Rajendar to resolve any grievance as he was supportive. After Mr Kamalakar became minister, he is said to be gaining support from the community leaders.

Some community leaders still maintain good relations with Mr Rajendar. It is learned that Mr Kamalakar invited BC leaders to a meeting and advised them to approach him if they needed anything done.

Who would get more support has become a matter of discussion,

Though Mr Rajendar is aware of the developments and has received information about the leaders who are meeting Mr Kamalakar, he has remained silent and is observing the moves of his district rival.

The associates of Mr Rajendar, however, are worried about Mr Kamalakar trying to gain the upper hand in local politics. This may affect the senior minister, they maintain. The high command has taken note of the cold war between the ministers and its silence is worrying leaders in Karimnagar district.

Mr Kamalakar is said to have told his aides that as he is BC welfare minister, community leaders have started approaching him and it has nothing to do with district politics.