Hyderabad: “Tiger” Raja Singh Lodh, the firebrand three-term MLA from old Hyderabad, announced his resignation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday, alleging that his nomination for the party president post was blocked and accusing leaders “driven by personal interests” of “running the show from behind the curtain”.
Earlier in the day, the BJP high command gave its go-ahead to Telangana legislative council ex-member Ramchander Rao, following which the senior leader filed his nomination papers in the afternoon, in the presence of present and former chief Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay and several party MPs, MLAs.
“I came to the party office, choosing an auspicious time to submit my nomination, but the state council members—supporting my candidature—were threatened with suspensions and forced to back out. They (party elders) have already decided who will become the next president,” Raja Singh told reporters.
Stating that he handed his resignation letter to incumbent Telangana BJP chief Kishan Reddy, Raja Singh said he asked Reddy to accept the same and that he also asked him to convey the decision to the assembly speaker, “in order to disqualify him as an MLA too.”
“Since 2014, I have been facing many troubles and challenges in the party. My family and I have become the target of terrorists, but still function in the party’s interests. But it is the leaders who are against BJP coming to power in Telangana that have become influential,” said Singh.
Singh has been in a feud with the party leadership, especially with Kishan Reddy, for some time now.
Earlier in the day, when reports emerged that Rao is the party’s nominee, to the chagrin of Singh and other hopefuls, the MLA reportedly said that for the BJP to gain strength and power in Telangana, “genuine polls should be held to elect its president, with booth-level activists to top-most leaders voting, instead of placing someone deemed favourable in the chair”.
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‘Difficult decision, but a necessary one’
Mincing no words, Raja Singh, in his resignation letter, said the decision to make Ramchander Rao the next BJP chief came “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,” the letter said.
Noting that there are “many capable, credible senior leaders, MLAs, and MPs, who tirelessly worked for BJP’s growth and can lead the party forward,” Singh added, “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.”
“This not only undermines the sacrifices of grassroots workers but risks pushing the party into avoidable setbacks. I find it difficult to stay silent or pretend that all is well. This is not about personal ambition; this letter reflects the pain and frustration of lakhs of loyal BJP karyakartas and supporters, who feel sidelined and unheard.”
“We had the best opportunity in years to bring the BJP to power in Telangana. But that hope is slowly getting replaced with disappointment and frustration, not because of the people, but because of the leadership at the helm.”
Singh said his humble appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President J.P. Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National General Secretary B.L. Santhosh was to reconsider the course.
“Telangana is ready for the BJP, but we must choose the right leadership to honour that opportunity and not let it slip away.”
Stating that his resignation was a difficult but necessary decision, Raja Singh further said that though stepping away, he remained “fully committed to the Hindutva ideology and in service of Dharma and the people of Goshamahal”.
“I will continue to raise my voice and stand with the Hindu community with even greater strength.”
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Welcomed back pre-Telangana polls
“Tiger” Raja Singh, 46, rose from humble beginnings, starting his political career with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as a municipal councillor in 2009.
After the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Raja Singh joined the BJP and became MLA of Goshamahal in 2014—the only among five sitting BJP MLAs to retain his seat in 2018.
Known as a rabble-rouser, the leader has frequently hit national headlines for his caustic speeches targeting Muslims.
Hyderabad police describe Singh Lodh as a “habitual offender” who delivered “provocative and inflammatory speeches”. The same, they say, has driven a “wedge between communities, leading to public disorder”.
Of the over 100 criminal cases registered against Raja Singh since 2004, 18 are communal offences.
Raja Singh, who has been winning the Goshamahal seat for the BJP since 2014, ran afoul of the party leadership in August 2022 for alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed.
The party suspended him, and he spent two and a half months in jail for his offence when the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was in power.
However, the BJP revoked his suspension ahead of the Telangana polls following his declaration that he would quit politics if he did not get a BJP ticket. His candidature was approved by the BJP’s central election committee, comprising party chief J.P. Nadda, PM Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and others.
Party insiders said former state BJP chief Bandi Sanjay had a hand in bringing Raja Singh back into the fold.
While the BJP lost four other sitting seats in 2018, it managed to retain only Goshamahal, with the victory attributed to the popularity of Raja Singh among voters, along with the severe communal polarisation in the constituency.
It is the only assembly seat under the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency—represented by Asaduddin Owaisi—not held by the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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