BJP starts ‘Operation Andhra’
With the Karnataka elections over and done with, the BJP high command has started “Operation Andhra”. Amid talk of action, the steps taken by the Centre with regard to the state are keenly awaited.
A BJP leader said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had viewed seriously the attack on the convoy of BJP president Amit Shah by TD activists. Mr Modi has also noted that AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is projecting him as a villain in the minds of people.
For the last few days, AP BJP leaders have been speaking of some “action” by the Centre after the Karnataka Assembly elections. Mr Naidu has also openly said several times that the Centre would target him and his son, minister Nara Lokesh.
Two days ago, BJP spokesperson and MP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao told the media in Delhi: “Andhra Pradesh politics would witness unexpected and dramatic changes soon.” He said that BJP did not need a long time to make an impact on AP, all it needed was three months to influence the conditions in the state.
Amid speculation on what this action was going to be, the BJP appointed Mr Kanna Laxminarayana, a strong critic of Mr Naidu, as the Andhra Pradesh unit president. As minister in the previous Congress government, Mr Laxminarayana had frequently targeted Mr Naidu.
AP BJP leaders have been alleging largescale corruption in the AP government, particularly with regard to the Polavaram Project. A BJP leader from AP said the Centre may order a CBI
■ According to BJP sources, the case of industrialist and former TTD member J. Sekhar Reddy of Chennai could be used to attack the Telugu Desam.
■ BJP leaders alleged that an AP minister had connections with Sekhar Reddy. In this case also the Centre may take action to put Mr Naidu’s government in trouble.
probe into the Polavaram project.
Asked about this, a senior TD minister commented that the Centre cannot order a CBI probe directly on state issues unless there is a direction from courts. The BJP leader countered this by saying that Polavaram was a national project being funded by the Centre; the AP government was only an implementing agency. He said that the Centre had every right to probe any allegations made against the project.
According to BJP sources, the case of industrialist and former TTD member J. Sekhar Reddy of Chennai could be used to attack the Telugu Desam.
The income-tax department had raided his Chennai residence last hear and seized currency notes and gold in huge quantities, including `6 crore in newly introduced `2,000 denomination notes from his house.
BJP leaders alleged that an AP minister had connections with Sekhar Reddy. In this case also the Centre may take action to put Mr Naidu’s government in trouble.