Soon after the BJP high-command announced the schedule for the selection of state presidents in both the Telugu states, the aspirants are once again turning active to head the party affairs in the state. As BJP is part of the TDP-led coalition government and the new president is likely to lead the party till next elections in 2029, it will be a crucial power center for the party activists.
State president D Purandeswari, who is more eager to join the union cabinet, said to be claiming to continue in the post as she hardly completed two years in the post. Unless the party leadership view on her leadership and organizational capabilities is known, it will be difficult to predict her future prospects.
In this regard, suddenly the name of former Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy name is surfacing in the party circles. For a long time, within the BJP there has been a demand to give a chance for a leader from the Rayalaseema to head the party in the state. Except the first president DSP Reddy and C. Ramachandra Reddy, who was the president in the combined state, no one from this region was given the opportunity to become state president during the last 45 years.
Moreover, during last year elections though he was offered a safe seat like Narasaraopet to contest he preferred to contest from his native constituency Rajampet only, though knowing well it would be difficult for the BJP to win from there. Later, his efforts to get Rajya Sabha seat also failed. On the otherhand, in the coming days the YSRCP will pose a bigger challenge to the coalition government.
As a result, many felt that his leadership to the party will help to boost BJP’s prospects in the state politics. Though a section of the party is insisting for a BC leader to head the party, party leadership is unlikely to yield to such pressures.
Former MLC PVN Madhav in this regard emerged as a strong contender. Already the lone minister in Chandrababu Naidu cabinet, Sathya Kumar is from the BC community. Two Rajya Sabha seats from the state were also given to BCs, R Krishnaiah and Paka Sathyanarayana.
The schedule for the state party president election will be announced on Sunday and nominations will be received till Monday and the new President will be announced on Tuesday.