Naidu baiters Kanna, Somu get prime posts in AP BJP

The BJP on Sunday appointed former minister Kanna Lakshminarayana as its AP unit president and MLC and party national executive member Somu Veerraju as election management committee convener.

Both Mr Lakshminarayana and Mr Veerraju are known for their aggressive stance against the TD, especially Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Ever since his Congress days, Mr Lakshminarayana has been a known as a bitter critic of Mr Naidu. Both never lose an opportunity to take on Mr Naidu.

Interestingly, both are from the numerically significant Kapu community.

■ Ever since his Congress days, Mr Lakshminarayana has been a known as a bitter critic of Mr Naidu.

The appointments came just a day after the Karnataka polls and are an indication that BJP central leadership had started focusing on AP affairs seriously, as reported earlier. The politics in the state is expected to become intense from now on. BJP Andhra Pradesh unit has been headless since April 17 after Vizag MP Kambhampati Haribabu resigned as state party president.

Mr Haribabu carries a soft image and many in the party felt that in the changed scenario, this image may not work specially when faced by an aggressive BJP.

BJP sources said Mr Veerraju had expected the coveted post of AP BJP chief and to placate him he was given the election management committee convener post.

Interestingly, Mr Lakshminarayana had sent his resignation to the party president Amit Shah few days ago as he was upset that he was not being given due importance in the party and that there were other names in the race for BJP state unit president.

There were strong rumours that Mr Lakshminarayana would join the YSRC. But kept his decision pending at the last minute citing health reasons.