The future political trajectory of former Health Minister of Telangana, Etala Rajender, who was
removed from the state Cabinet over land encroachment charges some days ago, has become the topic of much discussion in the state's political circles.
Telangana's people are keen to know whether the former minister will float a political party of his own or join an existing one.
Rajender himself is taking things quite slow. He has been meeting not only the leaders of various political parties but also activists of many prominent human rights and civil society organisations every day.
He has so far
met fellow TRS leader D Srinivas and his son, BJP leader D Arvind, former Congress leader Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, former TRS MLA E Ravinder Reddy, and Congress leader S Ramulu Naik.
Reports also say that the leader has been in touch with BJP state head Bandi Sanjay Kumar and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy. His meetings have become the basis for several people to believe that he will soon join either the BJP or Congress units in the state.
The former minister, on his part, is determined not to give anything away yet. He has maintained that he will first carry out detailed discussions with other leaders and his supporters before deciding what to do. He has also said that he does not have any enemies in any of the parties in the state.
Many however continue to feel that he is sure to float his own party especially since they feel that he made his intention to do so clear, albeit indirectly, in a recent interview. Some also cite his increasingly antagonistic comments about the TRS and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao as a sign that he will resign from his post as MLA and will also leave the pink party soon.