“The people have seen both BRS and Congress fail to fulfill the aspirations of the Telangana movement.”  Ramchander Rao Telangana BJP Chief 

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Acknowledging gaps in the BJP's organisational presence in some Telangana districts, newly-appointed state president N Ramchander Rao said on Friday that the party is working to expand in weaker areas while consolidating its traditional strongholds.

Rao, a senior leader from the ABVP who succeeded Union Minister G Kishan Reddy as state BJP chief on July 1, said his immediate focus would be on districts like Nalgonda, Khammam, and Warangal. His first visit in the new role included Nalgonda and Suryapet in South Telangana, as well as his native village near Kodad, where he received a warm welcome.

The party is also working to reinforce its presence in Hyderabad and its surrounding areas. "We are traditionally strong in North Telangana districts such as Karimnagar and Nizamabad, but we want balanced growth across the state," he said. On upcoming local body elections, Rao said the BJP would contest as many seats as possible and focus on grassroots mobilisation. “We are developing the organisation at the booth level. We're addressing farmers' concerns in rural areas and preparing for municipal and corporation elections in urban zones,” he told PTI.

He noted that BJP had not prioritized local bodies in the past but expressed confidence that the party would now garner support in both rural and urban regions.  He also highlighted recent wins in two MLC seats and pointed to the party’s performance in recent elections—winning eight out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in 2024 and eight Assembly seats in 2023.

Positioning BJP as a viable alternative, Rao said, “The people have seen both BRS and Congress fail to fulfill the aspirations of the Telangana movement.” On firebrand MLA Raja Singh’s resignation over Rao’s elevation, the BJP chief downplayed the issue. “No individual is above the party. We stand on the strength of our cadre and ideology,” he asserted.

Regarding BRS MLC K Kavitha's comments about some BRS leaders exploring a merger with BJP during her jail time, Rao dismissed them, saying, “Why should her statements be given any importance?” He also criticized the Congress government’s 42% reservation policy, calling it a political gimmick aimed at exploiting the BC vote. Rao further opposed Muslim reservation under the BC category.