Hyderabad: Suspense continues over the joining of Casino organiser Chikoti Praveen in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after he returned without joining the party after attending a saffron party rally on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters, Praveen said there was some ‘miscommunication’ between him and the senior leaders of the state BJP party.
“I was told no leaders are present in the office due to some programme on Wednesday. I will discuss this with the national-level leaders and plan a future course of action. The BJP party will win the forthcoming assembly elections in the state,” said Chikoti Praveen.
However, Praveen’s return to the state BJP office from Karmanghat after offering prayers at the Hanuman temple opened up a debate in the party circles.
Rumours are doing the rounds that the state BJP president G Kishan Reddy is ‘not keen’ on Praveen for his reputation around casinos while Karimnagar MP and the party’s national general secretary Bandi Sanjay is more interested in his entry into the fold.
Praveen is reportedly eyeing a party ticket from L B Nagar. However, he has not so far submitted an application for it at the state BJP office, which is seen as mandatory.
Praveen has planned a massive rally from the Hanuman temple at Karmanghat to the BJP Telangana office at Nampally. He also appealed to all BJP workers to join the rally, in which a huge crowd is expected to participate.
In recent pictures going viral on social media, Praveen is seen greeting several national leaders of the saffron party, including Bandi Sanjay.
Praveen was booked by the Gajwel police in July for taking out a rally in violation of prohibitory orders which was hit by communal tensions.
He took out a rally to pay tribute to Maratha ruler Shivaji after a man had allegedly defiled his statue.
Telangana: Gambler booked for taking out rally in Gajwel without permission
Also, Praveen was caught in Thailand during a raid on a casino along with several others. He was later deported to India. Praveen later clarified that he had just gone to the hotel on an invitation, and he was not aware of the gambling there.
Chatrinaka police in Hyderabad booked him during Bonalu in July, 2023, for employing private security guards with illegal weapons. Shortly after the case was filed, he obtained bail from the court in the case.
Hyderabad: Chikoti Praveen’s ‘private security guards’ sent to jail
Recently, Praveen extended a financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the family of home guard Ravinder, who immolated himself over the pending salary.
