List triggers dissent, Rekha Naik moves to Congress

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s announcement of party candidates for 115 Assembly constituencies triggered dissent within the BRS, even as Rao chose to drop only seven incumbent legislators in a pre-emptive attempt to douse possible fires.

Khanapur MLA Rekha Naik, who was dropped from the list, announced that she will join the Congress on Tuesday, while her husband, Shyam Naik, who was also aspiring for a BRS ticket, joined the Congress on Monday.

Before making public the list on Monday, Chandrashekar Rao held a meeting with a few incumbent MLAs and ticket aspirants at Pragathi Bhavan to pacify them with a promise of giving them nominated posts and other opportunities in the coming days.

Meetings were held with MLC Patnam Mahender Reddy, who is demanding the Tandur ticket in place of MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy and also with MLC S. Madhusudhana Chary, who is demanding the Bhupalapally ticket, in the place of MLA Gandra Venkat Ramana Reddy.

Rao reportedly pacified Mahender Reddy and Chary, convincing them to stay away from contesting polls this time, while taking them in tow to Telangana Bhavan for the announcement of the BRS list. The MLCs shared the dais with MLAs and sent a signal that they will work together for the party's victory.

Speculations are rife that the Chief Minister offered a Cabinet berth to Patnam Mahender Reddy for the remaining three months of the current tenure. At present, there is one vacancy in the Cabinet, since Etala Rajendar was ousted from the BRS in May 2021.

Rao reportedly offered to make Patnam a Cabinet minister and promised to retain him in the Cabinet as an MLC, provided the BRS retains power for a third term.