What prompted KCR to remove Raghunandan?

17 May, 2013 16:53 IST|Sakshi

TRS – a party floated to fight for Telangana statehood, landed in yet another trouble. The party, which celebrated its 12th anniversary in April last, received a sudden jolt in the form of Raghunandan Rao, who threatened to exhibit proofs of fund collection scam in the party.

TRS chief KCR suspended Raghunandan Rao for resorting to anti-party activities. He was charged with collecting funds from an industrialist in Patancheruv of Medak district.

Raghunandan has occupied a prominent place in the party with his coercive loquacity. He was a lawyer by profession and former journalist. KCR gave him an opportunity to appear in debates of TV shows on behalf of TRS. Taking advantage of his social class (Velama community) to which KCR too belonged to; Raghunandan grabbed the opportunity and invaded a position among the top leaders like Harish Rao, KTR and Kavita.

He was elected as cooperative society member from Dubbaka his native place, but missed the DCCB chairman post. Then, he got into the youth wing of TRS and had lost in ZPTC election in 2004. He held as president of Medak district TRS unit for four terms from 2009 to 2012. He was the strong aspirant of the MLA ticket in 2004 and 2009 assembly elections. KCR had denied him ticket as the party had gone into the polls with alliances. Later, he was elected as MLC in 2009 from local bodies’ quota.

What prompted KCR to sack Raghu?

The main allegation against Raghunandan was that he had met TDP president Chandrababu Naidu a few days ago to shift his loyalties. Some insiders in TRS observe that it is not the main reason for his removal. Some others say the allegation is far from the truth. They said Raghunandan started making money by working as legal advisor to many industries in Patancheruv area. As a result, they stopped sending funds to TRS headquarters, which irked the party leadership. Hence he was suspended from the party; it is one version of his removal.

Another version is that Raghunandan had stirred the hornet’s nest. Raghunandan made an attempt to regroup the leaders who had resigned the party over the period and plotted to fight against KCR. Many leaders from Reddy community like Jitta Balakrishna Reddy from Nalgonda, N B Srinivasa Reddy from Mahaboobnagar and K K Mahinder Reddy from Karimnagar left the party following differences with KCR. Raghunandan was only the leader from Velama community who raised a banner of revolt against KCR. Sources further informed that Raghunandan tried to build an anti-KCR group. He has plans to quit the party after successfully re-grouping all the leaders, who had difference of opinions with KCR. Raghunandan during the media conference had said leaders like Vijayarama Rao and A Chandrasekhar from Vikarabad would follow his suit. As his plans got leaked, KCR annoyed over his evil designs and suspended Raghunandan from the party, sources added.

Harish’s plot against KCR exposed

Soon after he was suspended from the party Raghunandan made Harish Rao as his first target and exposed his evil designs to dethrone KCR from the party position during 2008 by-polls. He alleged that Harish Rao had spent Rs 50 lakhs to defeat KTR in Siricilla in 2009 elections. He further alleged that Harish Rao had taken Rs 80 lakhs at the residence of Vijayashanti over the PIL he filed in the High Court against Padmalaya Studios. Apart from it, he challenged to expose KCR of collecting huge funds, if he failed to prove charges levelled against him within 48 hours. He dared the TRS leadership to face a legal battle as he was moving to court.

Harish Rao refuted charges levelled by Raghunandan and Medak district party in-charge Rajaiah countered the allegations. Surprisingly, KCR is mum on the charges made by Raghunandan.

KCR is busy with continuous meetings in Karimnagar district. Political analysts say that Raghunandan has exposed the inside war in the TRS, especially the rift between the Harish Rao and KTR. Will KCR take any disciplinary action against his nephew Harish Rao taking Raghunandan’s allegations into consideration? Anyhow, Raghunandan episode sparked ripples among the TRS senior leaders.