Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday appointed former MLC N Ramchander Rao as the new president of the Telangana unit, ending days of speculation surrounding the successor to G Kishan Reddy. The appointment, seen as a strategic move, is expected to bring renewed focus and ideological steadiness to the party in the run-up to civic and local body elections.
A BJP press release confirmed the appointment, which followed a formal notification on Sunday and the commencement of the nomination process at the state party headquarters in Hyderabad.
A Veteran with Ideological Roots
N Ramchander Rao, known for his deep ideological commitment and long-standing loyalty to the BJP, was among the top contenders, alongside Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman, Lok Sabha MPs Eatala Rajender and D Arvind. While the party was expected to consider a backward class leader in response to the Congress government’s social justice narrative and caste survey push, it ultimately opted for organisational experience over electoral symbolism.
A source in the party told PTI that the BJP central leadership viewed Rao as a “trusted and strategic choice”, likely to bring discipline and structure as the party recalibrates its roadmap in Telangana.
Transition from G Kishan Reddy
G Kishan Reddy, who was appointed as Telangana BJP president in July 2023, continued in the role even after being appointed Union Minister for Coal and Mines in Modi 3.0. His dual responsibilities necessitated the handover to a full-time state president ahead of upcoming local elections.
The election process was supervised by Union Minister of State for MSME Shobha Karandlaje (central returning officer), and former MLA Endala Lakshminarayana (state election officer).
Rao’s Stand on National Issues
Shortly before his elevation, Rao made headlines with strong statements on national developments. Condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, he said:
“The attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam by the terrorists is a grave and inhuman incident, which should be condemned by all the sections of society… This incident definitely has a foreign hand behind it.”
Calling for political unity, he added:
“All political parties, including opposition parties, should speak with one voice — that we are all against terrorism.”
On the recent Air India aircraft tragedy in Ahmedabad, he termed the incident “a tragic day for the country” and called for a thorough investigation:
“The crash of the Air India plane is a tragic incident, and today is a day of mourning… A full investigation must be carried out by the concerned authorities,” Rao told ANI.
What’s Next for BJP in Telangana?
Rao’s appointment comes at a critical time. The BJP, still aiming to expand its footprint in southern India, hopes Rao’s leadership will galvanize the cadre, counter the Congress narrative, and boost performance in local elections — all while keeping core ideological values intact.
With an experienced hand now at the helm, the BJP is expected to intensify its outreach, both at the grassroots and among key communities in the state.