Jalagam avoids Tummala’s programmes

Khammam: Soon after assuming power in Telangana, the Telangana Rasthra Samithi (TRS) set its eyes on Khammam, along with Hyderabad, where its hold was minimal as against other Telangana districts. Post-elections, the political scenario in Khammam district, once bastion for the Communists, witnessed a sea change, specially with the entry of Telugu Desam strongman Tummala Nageswara Rao into the pink party. It triggered an exodus of TDP leaders into TRS.

Tummala’s entry into TRS was on the cards ever since he lost the Khammam Assembly seat due to internal squabbles. In fact, even before the elections, it was speculated that he would join TRS after he faced strong resistance from the then sitting MP Nama Nageswara Rao’s group when he wanted to contest from Paleru.

Jalagam Venkat Rao, the scion of Jalagam Vengala Rao, got elected from Kothagudem, thus becoming the first and the only TRS legislator from the district. It obviously raised the hopes of his followers that he would find a place in the Cabinet The second Cabinet expansion disappointed them. As if rubbing salt to wounds, Tummala was made a Minister. Since then, Venkat Rao has been maintaining a low profile. He ‘reluctantly’ accepted the Parliamentary Secretary’s post.

Although both leaders say there is no feud between them and that even they had met several times in the recent past, Venkat Rao was conspicuous by his absence at all meetings and programmes of Tummala. If Tummala's inclusion was to woo a particular community which is dominant in this part of the State, to gain ascendancy in the district politics, the same caste factor went against Venkat Rao, who belongs to the Chief Minister’s community, which has sufficient Cabinet representation.

By:Adepu Mahender