BJP eyes Andhra gains after split
POLL PLAN Saffron party says TDP’S ‘inevitable’ exit has given them opportunity to grow in the southern state; BJP president Amit Shah scheduled to hold meet with party’s leaders from the state today
We joined the NDA to A solution has been protect our state’s put on the table. It is interests after bifurcation. for Andhra to decide if they We waited for four years want the resources or they hoping that the Centre will want to make an issue… honour the promises but it We found a solution in only meted out injustice ... 2016 that instead of a We are fighting a dharma special category, we will yuddham against Centre. give a special package.
N CHANDRABABU NAIDU , ARUN JAITLEY, finance minister Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief and senior BJP leader
NEWDELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)’S exit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had become “inevitable,” terming it an opportunity for its own growth in Andhra Pradesh.
“TDP’S decision to quit was inevitable after its mischievous propaganda against the Centre,” party spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao said, referring to the TDP’S claim that the Bjp-led NDA government had reneged on a promise to designate Andhra as a special category state that would have made it eligible for special central grants.
“People of AP have now realised that the TDP is resorting to lies to cover up its inept and inert governance. Far from being a threat, TDP’S exit is a timely opportunity for the BJP to grow in Andhra Pradesh,” Rao said.
BJP chief Amit Shah is holding a meeting with party leaders from Andhra Pradesh in New Delhi on Saturday where Friday’s developments and future strategy will be discussed, a party leader said. “This is a scheduled meeting, but, obviously, the latest developments will be discussed,” the BJP leader said on condition of anonymity.
The BJP won two out of four Lok Sabha seats it contested from Andhra Pradesh in 2014 and polled about 2.08 million votes (7.2% of total vote share). BJP leaders in Delhi said the breakup was a blessing in disguise as the alliance with the TDP was checking its own growth.
“In a multi-cornered fight, there is scope for us to grow,” BJP’S Andhra Pradesh chief K Hari Babu said.
Friday’s breakup came days after TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu pulled the party’s two ministers out of the NDA government
“The Bharatiya Janata Party went back on its promise of special status..,” former minister and TDP member of Parliament (MP) YS Chowdary said. “The issue has gained momentum in Andhra Pradesh.”
The BJP, another party politician said, was expecting to benefit through an electoral alliance
Even if guided by political compulsion, TDP had to yet again follow YSRCP’S lead of moving a noconfidence motion against Centre... A win for democracy and people of AP! JAGAN MOHAN REDDY, chief
YSR Congress Party
with actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena.
Kalyan had campaigned for the TDP-BJP alliance in the last assembly elections, but hardened his position against chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu for allegedly neglecting the interests of the southern state. The Congress polled over 800,000 votes in the 25 Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha seats and the BJP is eyeing that space.
“Congress and BJP are two national parties. The Congress is on a downslide. We will try to get maximum benefit out of it,” the second BJP leader cited above said.
BJP leaders do not expect a pact with the YSR Congress led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who enjoys support among the Christians and Muslims of the Rayalaseema region.
I welcome the TDP’S decision to leave the NDA. The current situation warrants such action to save the country from disaster. They (TDP) were in the NDA and they have left it for a greater cause. MAMATA BANERJEE , West Bengal CM and TMC chief We have been supporting Special Category Status for AP since the beginning... When a noconfidence motion is moved, you have to talk about the government’s failures. MALLIKARJUN KHARGE,
Congress leader