BJP eyes Andhra gains after split
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
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
We joined the NDA to protect our state’s interests after bifurcation. We waited for four years hoping that the Centre will honour the promises but it only meted out injustice ... We are fighting a dharma yuddham against Centre. N CHANDRABABU NAIDU , Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief
(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 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.
A solution has been put on the table. It is for Andhra to decide if they want the resources or they want to make an issue… We found a solution in 2016 that instead of a special category, we will give a special package. ARUN JAITLEY, finance minister and senior BJP leader