Media reports indicate that N Ramchander Rao is likely to be appointed as the new president of the BJP’s Telangana unit
HYDERABAD – Peeved at being ignored for the leadership role of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Telangana unit, Islamophobic legislator from Goshamahal constituency in Hyderabad, T Raja Singh, resigned from the party on Monday.
Singh’s decision to resign came shortly after reports indicated that the party high command had tapped N Ramchander Rao to be the new chief of the party’s Telangana unit.
Requesting the BJP state president, G Kishan Reddy, to inform the speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly that Raja Singh is no longer a member of the BJP, he said, “While I may be stepping away from the party, I remain fully committed to the ideology of Hindutva and the service of our dreams and the people of Goshamahal.”
His resignation letter, posted on social media platforms, states that, “This decision has come as a shock and disappointment, not just to me, but to lakhs of Karyakartas, leaders, and voters who have stood by the party through every high and low. At a time when the BJP stands at the threshold of forming its first government in Telangana, such a choice raises serious doubts about the direction we are heading.”
He expressed his dissatisfaction over the reported appointment of Ramchander Rao.
“There are many capable senior leaders, MLAs and MPS within our state who have tirelessly worked for the growth of the BJP and who have the strength, credibility and connection to lead the party forward. Unfortunately, it appears that some individuals, driven by personal interests, have misled the central leadership and taken decisions by running the show from behind the curtain,” he said.
He said the party had the best opportunity in years to come to power in Telangana. “But that hope is slowly being replaced by disappointment and frustration, not because of the people, but because of the leadership being placed at the helm,” he said.
This is not the first instance of Raja Singh’s name being embroiled in controversy. In February this year, Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — took down two Facebook groups and three Instagram accounts associated with the BJP MLA, following a report from India Hate Lab that highlighted the proliferation of hate speech on social media.
Raja Singh, who has a history of making inflammatory remarks against Muslims and being booked for several of them, was also banned from Facebook and Instagram in 2020 under Meta’s policy regarding “dangerous individuals and organisations”.
In 2023, his party suspended him for allegedly making controversial statements and outraging the religious sentiments of Muslims with blasphemous remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. – With inputs from Agencies
