BJP’S CATCHMENT AREA

ANDHRA PRADESH TELANGANA TAMIL NADU KERALA added Rao.

The weakening of the Congress and the divide within the Left could trigger “major political changes and realignment,” in the state, a leader said adding: “(In Kerala) there will be an anti-communist alignment and the BJP will be a major player in it,” a leader said.

Getting a superstar is part of BJP’S Kerala strategy as well. While Suresh Gopi is already a Rajya Sabha member from the state, Mohanlal is another actor the party would like to get on board.

In Telangana, party leaders say, it isn’t easy for the Congress to take the anti-trs space as “both the ruling TRS and the Congress follow the same policies.” Congress has already been weakened after many of its leaders, including sitting MLAS, joined the TRS.

“The Opposition space will be occupied by the BJP in Telangana,” said one BJP leader. The BJP has already launched an agitation against the Telangana government’s decision to increase quota for backward Muslims.

In Andhra Pradesh, where the BJP is in alliance with the ruling TDP, BJP sees space for serious bargaining. The prominent Opposition party YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy is facing fresh trouble in his disproportionate assets case and the BJP feels his political career will be on the backburner until he is absolved of these charges.

Interestingly, Jagan Mohan Reddy who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence yesterday, said the YSR Congress will offer support to any candidate the BJP fields for the upcoming Presidential election. “We have very less difference in opinion. Except for differences on the land acquisition bill and special status for Andhra Pradesh, we share similar opinions on various issues which we think are pro-people,” Jagan told reporters after the meeting.

In Andhra Pradesh, the BJP also wants to woo former Congress leaders who did not join the YSR Congress. In poll-bound Karnataka, the BJP is banking on anti-incumbency undermining the Jd-secular and the Congress.