BJP should not satisfy with Allaince, Should Focus on Future in AP to make it New Odisha
Shri Chandra Babu Naidu is back in New Delhi politics, as consistently seen in co-heading the NDA meeting, and has given preference over other leaders, including those of BJP, during important state activities like the Oath ceremonies. Of all leaders, including Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Shri Chandra Babu Garu has the biggest turnout as it is not even a year since he was sent to jail in his home state on the corruption allegations in Skill Development cases charged by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by then AP Chief Minister Shri Jagan Mohan Reddy. CBN was sent to jail on September 10th 2023, on the above issue. The crucial factor is that the current alliance partner, BJP, didn't even raise its voice against the ruling YSRCP over the issue. Even many leaders from Andhra have criticised the BJP and accused it of silent partnering with YSRCP. While this is the case, I spoke with a few political literates who shed light that the BJP is waiting for TDP to come down on negotiations and wants it to request to come back to NDA. I find this a more possible scenario as when CBN was released from jail, there were 2-3 trips to New Delhi to confirm the alliance and put up a joint face against YSRCP in the 2024 assembly elections.
Image 1: Shri Chandra Babu Naidu Garu and Shri Nitesh Kumar Ji in NDA Parliamentary meeting in New Delhi
Now, thinking about the future of BJP in Andhra Pradesh, which has opened its tally after 5 years and only with the NDA alliance with the Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena Party contributing majorly, the BJP still have a long way to go in the state. But again, after the discussions with the political thinkers and from my own political understanding, I think that BJP is in the plans to absorb the Jana Sena Party in the long run. The BJP National leadership is aware that its state leadership is compromised as almost 3/4th of the BJP state team is comprised of CBN-favourites who he specifically lobbied in other parties through various tactics. Only a section of BJP Andhra Pradesh leaders are falling under the strict BJP lines, like former BJP AP President Shri Somu Veerraju, while all current and former senior leaders like former Vice President Shri Venkaaih Naidu Garu, Shri Srujana Chowdary and incumbent BJP AP President Smt Daggubati Purandeswari are alleged to be CBN people in BJP. For those who do not understand, CBN is known for placing its people across the parties to make them zombie institutions and control them indirectly. The examples are Shri Revanth Reddy Garu (a former TDP leader who later joined INC and currently heads the Telangana government as Chief Minister), Shri Venkaaiah Naidu Garu (former BJP leader who reached the senior positions in BJP national leadership and retired after serving as the Vice-President of Indian Union). Other things left aside, I admire the CBN ji for his Machiavellian leadership in using bureaucrats effectively and controlling opposition tacitly.
Image 2: JSP Chief Shri Pawan Kalyan Garu and TDP Chief Shri Chandra Babu Naidu Garu during election campaigning in Andhra Pradesh
Now, back to the topic of BJP absorbing the JSP in Andhra Pradesh and using Shri Pawan Kalyan Garu to make inroads in the state. People need to understand that JSP does not have second-level leaders, and it is led by the popularity of Shri Pawan Kalyan mostly and his abilities to consolidate the Kapu community votes in the state. The electorate support for both BJP and JSP match at multiple levels. JSP bases itself on the Kapu community vote, which, to a major extent, are Hindu, leaving aside a small faction who are traditionally Hindu but have converted to Christianity. While JSP is branded as a Kapu Party, the same as TDP as the Kamma party and YSRCP as the Naidu party. The BJP is safe in these areas. It is generally not associated with any single community, even though it is generally seen as an upper-caste party. The electorate in Andhra Pradesh is also largely Hindu, and Christianity is the second largest. While there is no direct opposition to Christianity currently from the BJP, and much of the Christian population consists of recent converts, there is a higher possibility that the BJP might secure the support of the community, too. The Muslim minority in Andhra Pradesh are different from those of North and neighbouring Hyderabad as they are largely politically silent and have associated themselves with TDP. Andhra Pradesh can be the new Odisha for the BJP as it can make good electoral gains if it is playing its cards well.
Strategy Ahead:
I believe that the BJP should primarily and parallel focus on two things.
- Organisation expansion in North AP (Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Vishakapatnam, East and West Godavari)
- Inducting Shri Pawan Kalyan to BJP and giving him the reigns to BJP AP leadership. Senior leaders like Shri Bhupendra Yadav Ji and Shri Om Birla Ji should be appointed as observers to improve the overall organisation in the state.
- Also, induct the second-generation leaders of YSRCP veterans before TDP poaches them to strengthen TDP's future leadership and ensure that the TDP organisation is not being broken.
Image 3: Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Shri Pawan Kalyan Ji
With the above three strategies, I feel that the BJP will make inroads in the state. With my little experience with the BJP, I feel that the BJP heads are already making plans to achieve this.
- Kalki1110
