Will Eatela Rajender's exit from TRS alter Telangana political landscape?

What impact will former Telangana minister Eatela Rajender's decision to join the BJP have on the TRS and CM KCR's popularity? Read to find out.

When Eatela Rajender was sacked by Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao six weeks ago, a few eyebrows went up within the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS). Because those who tracked the internal dynamics of the ruling party knew it was a matter of time before the Health minister was shown the door. The question asked, therefore, was not "Why?'' but "Why so late?'' Rajender was KCR's Finance minister between 2014 and 2018. Towards the end of the first term, relations between the two leaders had soured. In fact, when he was inducted into the cabinet again in 2019, this time as Health minister, many were surprised. The rumour mills which worked overtime to target Rajender had it that the 57-year-old leader was a Trojan horse who had opened up a front with political rivals. On Monday, Rajender formally joined the BJP. The next few weeks in the run-up to the byelection to the Huzurabad assembly constituency - the seat he resigned from - will test Rajender. The TRS, as is its wont, is certain to deploy all its manpower and resources to win the contest. A win for Rajender will elevate his stature, a defeat will consign him to the footnotes of Telangana political history.