N Ramchander Rao, a senior advocate and seasoned political organiser, is poised to take over the reins of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Telangana unit, replacing Union Minister G Kishan Reddy at a time when the party seeks to recalibrate its state strategy.
Rao is likely to be the sole nominee for the position, with the party issuing a formal notification for the internal election on June 29. Nominations were accepted at the party’s state headquarters in Hyderabad between 2 pm and 4 pm on June 30, with withdrawal permitted up to 5 pm the same day.
The appointment signals a generational yet ideologically consistent shift within the Telangana BJP. Rao, 66, brings with him not only administrative experience as a former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) for the Graduates' Constituency covering Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Mahabubnagar (2015–2021), but also deep roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated student movement.
The outgoing chief, G Kishan Reddy, has held the state unit presidency since July 2023, taking over from Bandi Sanjay Kumar. Reddy continued to hold the organisational post even after assuming Union Cabinet responsibilities as Minister for Coal and Mines in the Narendra Modi-led government’s third term.
While names such as Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman and Lok Sabha members Eatala Rajender and D Arvind were in speculation for the post, the party appears to have reached a consensus around Rao’s candidacy.
State election officer and former BJP MLA Endala Lakshminarayana informed the media that Union Minister of State for MSME, Shobha Karandlaje, would serve as the Central Returning Officer for the election proceedings.
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Rao’s trajectory reflects both grassroots engagement and constitutional familiarity. Having begun his legal career in 1985, Rao has represented clients at various levels and was elected to the Bar Council of India in 2014. His organisational roles within the BJP include General Secretary of the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh unit and Chief Spokesperson for the party in the region.
He also led BJP’s membership enrolment drive in Telangana, a key mass-contact programme central to the party’s expansion efforts.
Son of Professor NVRLN Rao, former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Osmania University, N Ramchander Rao was drawn to politics during his school days in the Emergency era. His activism continued through his academic years—first as President of the Students’ Union at Railway Degree College, affiliated to the ABVP, and later as Secretary of the Osmania Law College Students’ Union.
Rao’s political defiance led to multiple detentions; he was imprisoned 14 times during student movements.
An alumnus of Kendriya Vidyalaya in Picket, Secunderabad (1977), he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Railway Degree College (1980), a Master’s in Political Science (1982), and a Bachelor of Laws (1985), all from Osmania University.
Rao resides in Hyderabad. His daughter, Amuktha Naraparaju, works in the IT sector in Australia, while his son, Avaneesh Naraparaju, practises law at the Telangana High Court.
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