Though BJP’s vote bank was proved to be less then NOTA votes in AP, being a partner in TDP-led coalition government, it has been making attempts to consolidate its position extracting lion share in power. Moreover, maintaining its `separate identity’ keeping away from TDP political campaigns. Even, it is succeeding in grabbing Jana Sena also on its side.
While Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has started an ambitious outreach programme from July 1, on the completion of one year of his government to reach people on his government’s achievements, both TDP and Jana Sena MLAs are not taking part.
While TDP is focusing on exposing former chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s corrupt and repressive regime, by and large, BJP and Jana Sena leaders are keeping silent.
At the same time, the decisions taken by BJP leaders at the AP are becoming interesting. Along with the new appointments, the BJP is tightening its grip on the alliance. BJP national leadership has given clear instructions to the state party leaders that they should focus on expanding their base, ignoring TDP’s political gamelan.
By bringing pressure on the TDP leadership, it has been succeeding in getting the highest quota in power sharing. While it has only 8 MLAs, it was able to get two Rajya Sabha seats and one MLC seat. The candidates selected by BJP are also sending irritating signals to the TDP cadre. Replacing D Purandeshwari with PVN Madhav as state BJP chief also said to be not going well with them.
The state BJP leadership now seems to be consolidating behind the forces who were earlier exposed with their proximity with Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime. For a long time, BJP has been trying to grow politically in AP, but failing to make headway. Now it has decided to take advantage of the opportunity.
The Government of India’s non-committal attitude towards Chandrababu Naidu’s prestigious Polavaram – Banakacharla link project also indicates that the BJP leadership is not showing interest to strengthen TDP politically.
Unexpectedly, the comments made by BJP AP floor leader Vishnu Kumar Raju at the same time have become a sensation. He questioned whether the government would have achieved this level of success if it were not for the BJP? At the same time, he expressed deep dissatisfaction with the 5 percent share allotted to his party in the coalition.
He said that the presence of a BJP-led NDA government at the center is key to the success of the BJP-backed alliance in the state. He demanded more than 5 percent seats in the upcoming local body elections. His comments reveal that BJP is eyeing to grab as many seats as possible in forthcoming local-body polls, irrespective of their actual strength.