TDP, BJP, JSP hope to recreate their magic
JSP chief Pawan Kalyan is reportedly the driving factor in bringing the BJP and TDP together again; TDP leaders hope that allying with the party in power at the Centre will ensure a free and fair election in the State; all the three parties had lost miser
The Andhra Pradesh political dream team of 2014 — which fell apart with disastrous consequences for all three partners in 2019 — is back together again. Despite the BJP’s lack of enthusiasm for the partnership this time round, the TDP’s fear of a backlash from an electorate unhappy with the BJPled Union government, and the unknown strength of the YSR Congress party, the trio is hoping to recreate its electoral magic of a decade ago.
In 2014, the alliance of the BJP and Telugu Desam Party — with outside support from Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party, which did not join the electoral fray — won the favour of the electorate. Just before the 2019 election, the TDP severed ties with the BJP, alleging that the NDA government had failed to give Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. The TDP lost miserably to the YSR Congress party.
Now, the combination is back in the reckoning.
Reluctant partners
Though Mr. Kalyan had announced his alliance with the TDP in September last year, when Mr. Naidu was in judicial custody related to his alleged involvement in the A.P. Skill Development scam, it took some time for the BJP to join in.
The alliance has been crafted after a series of meetings with the BJP’s top brass, earlier this year and on March 7 and 8. However, the modalities of seatsharing and other details are yet to be made public.
As per sources, though the BJP was not very keen to tie up with TDP this time, it was Mr. Kalyan’s efforts that paved the way for the alliance. The JSP chief has been harping on the need for the alliance, to avoid the splitting of antiYSRCP votes. Moreover, for the BJP, some tieup was necessary to keep a check on the resurgent Congress, which is now being led by Y.S. Sharmila in the State.
However, questions remain on whether the alliance will be able to repeat its 2014 performance.
Political pundits say that the TDP and JSP may face a backlash for tying up with the BJP, as there is a lot of resentment against the BJP in the State. The people are upset with the Union government for privatising the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, failing to operationalise the sanctioned railway zone, refusing to sanction Special Category Status for the State, among other grievances.
According to senior TDP leaders, the biggest benefit of the alliance is the assurance it provides for a free and fair election in the State. “We are confident that Jagan Reddy will use all his might to use the State’s official machinery, including the police force, to make the election work in his favour. They were successful in 2019. But now, once the alliance is sealed, it will be difficult for [Mr. Reddy] or his party leaders to turn the electioneering in their favour,” a TDP leader said.