KCR sure must be realizing that despite all the machinations and containment strategies, Etela is no pushover. He still is holding sway on his home turf of Huzurabad. Despite all the power that KCR has, Etela seems to be having lot of clout in the constituency. Senior TRS leader and MLC Naradasu Laxman has seen and felt this first hand on Saturday.
The TRS organized a meeting of the party workers in Kormel village in Veenavanka mandal of Karimnagar district. This mandal is part of Huzurabad constituency that Etela has been representing for over 20 years. The meeting was aimed at neutralizing Etela Rajender’s influence and convincing the party workers to stay together. However, as the meeting progressed, Naradasu told the audience that individuals were not important, but party is. At this, a large number of the party workers shouted ‘Jai Etela’. A non-plussed Naradasu tried to convince them. At this the sloganeering has only increased. This led to heated arguments between the supporters and opponents of Etela.
Finally, the meeting had to be abandoned midway and Naradasu beat a hasty retreat. Sources in Huzurabad say that in most villages in the constituency are divided vertically on the issue of Etela Rajender. They said that Etela still enjoys lot of popularity in the constituency.