Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Eatala Rajender on Wednesday said that the party is "very democratic" and is ready to take on Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in Telangana.
Speaking during the India Today during the India Today Telangana Roundtable session, he said that the SCs and STs in Telangana have faith in the BJP.
Rajender has been fielded by the BJP from the Gajwel constituency in Telangana, ahead of assembly polls. Notably, CM KCR will also contest the elections from this seat.
"I am a revolutionary first. I have been part of the struggle for the formation of Telangana for 14 years. I have served as the Finance Minister and Health Minister in Telangana," Rajender said.
When asked about Congress's allegations that KCR and the BJP are one team, Rajender said, "PM Modi has not once, but multiple times, said that the BJP will take on KCR."
Eatala Rajender was earlier part of KCR's party Bhartiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS), but quit to join BJP. Talking about his decision to resign, Rajender said, "I have a tendency to fight against the wrong since my childhood. If I see something wrong happening in front of me, I cannot stay quiet."
The Central Bureau of Investigation Director has received a one-year extension, continuing in the role until May next year. The decision was made by a high-power committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, and the Leader of Opposition.
The latest edition of Statecraft covers major geopolitical shifts as US President Donald Trump arrives in Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, occurring amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and the Strait of Hormuz blockade, focusses on trade, tariffs, and the Iran war.
In this episode of Newstrack, watch the exclusive interview of Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Ashok Lahiri as he decodes PM Modi's austerity push amid the escalating crisis in West Asia.
The central government has implemented austerity measures, including reducing ministerial convoys to two vehicles, in response to a looming fuel crisis driven by West Asian geopolitical tensions. While the ruling party frames this as a necessary fiscal step, opposition leaders have labeled the move tokenism, demanding a special parliamentary session to address the economic situation and rising oil prices. Simultaneously, the national currency has depreciated to an all-time low against the dollar, prompting calls from experts for fiscal consolidation and reduced political populism. Amidst these economic challenges, a major controversy has emerged regarding the national medical entrance examination. Investigations into an alleged paper leak and an interstate exam mafia have resulted in multiple arrests across several states, revealing potential political links. Education experts are now advocating for a complete overhaul of the testing system, suggesting decentralized, computer-based examinations to ensure future transparency. Transparency activists further urge the government to disclose fuel stock data to prevent public panic and hoarding during this period of economic instability.
