Years after poaching allegations, ex-BRS MLA Guvvala Balaraju set to join BJP

Hyderabad: Life has come full circle for former BRS MLA Guvvala Balaraju, who is set to join the BJP soon. Balaraju was one of the four BRS MLAs who made headlines before the high-stakes 2022 Munugode assembly bypoll for allegedly being poached by BJP leaders through intermediaries.

At the time, the then-KCR government attempted to implicate the BJP's top southern leader, BL Santosh, in the MLA poaching case as well. Now, three years after the alleged poaching incident, the two-time former MLA from Achampet is preparing to officially join the BJP.

Balaraju recently quit the BRS. Though he stated in his resignation letter to party patriarch K Chandrashekar Rao that he was leaving with no bitterness or complaints and would always remain thankful for the identity and dignity the party gave him, those close to him cited the lack of a future for the "Pink party" in Telangana as his reason for deciding to join the BJP. His decision to join the BJP rather than the ruling Congress party in the state also signals that the saffron party appears to be emerging as a viable alternative in Telangana politics.

In his letter dated August 2, Balaraju said the decision was taken with a "heavy heart" after serving the party for nearly two decades. While there was speculation that he was also in touch with the Congress central leadership, Balaraju met newly appointed BJP Telangana unit chief N Ramachander Rao two days ago, which brought down the curtain on suspense about his next move.

"I have decided to join the BJP. For now, it's only me who is joining the BJP," Balaraju told reporters after meeting Rao.

Interestingly, in a purported audio clip said to be a conversation between Balaraju and one of his followers, the former MLA mentioned reports of a potential alliance between the BRS and BJP in the coming days. In that scenario, it would be better to join the BJP first and secure the seat, he was heard telling his follower.

BJP state leaders are hopeful of the saffron party emerging as a viable alternative in Telangana, especially after it achieved its highest-ever tally in the state during last year's general elections, winning eight out of 17 Lok Sabha seats. Before the general elections, both national parties BJP and Congresshad unleashed "Operation Akarsh," but Congress won the first round over the BJP. At least five MPs and several MLAs quit the BRS to join Congress, whereas the BJP could bring only two of sitting BRS MPs into its fold.

Both Congress and the BJP have been looking to weaken the BRS by engineering defections within the party, as its leaders' morale has been at an all-time low following debacles in the 2023 assembly elections and last year's Lok Sabha polls, in which the BRS drew a blank. However, more than a year and a half after Congress rule began, things appear to have changed in the BJP's favor.