While the Congress appears to be a closed book, the BJP is struggling to stay relevant by allying with either the TDP, the Jana Sena, or both.
Hyderabad: The political scene in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is heating up, with both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party facing an existential crisis.
While the Congress appears to be a closed book, the BJP is struggling to stay relevant by allying with either the Telugu Desam Party, the Jana Sena, or both. However, with the entry of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) into Andhra Pradesh politics, the BJP’s task has become more difficult.
Except in a few Assembly seats, the BJP has never been a strong force in the former Andhra Pradesh. Even after the state was divided, the situation did not improve and worsened. The BJP won four MLA seats in the 2014 Assembly elections by forming an alliance with the TDP and the Jana Sena. However, by the 2019 Assembly elections, it had lost even one seat, and its vote share had dropped from 4.13 percent in 2014 to 0.96 percent in 2019. This was less than NOTA’s vote share, which was 1.5 percent.
Though both TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and JSP chief Pawan Kalyan are eager to work with the BJP, the latter has been dragging his feet for reasons best known to the powers that be. Both leaders are reportedly becoming increasingly impatient and have agreed to proceed with their plans regardless of whether the BJP is willing to join them or not. Pawan Kalyan is said to be more interested in joining Naidu’s team than the BJP.
“Considering the caste and religious equations in Andhra Pradesh, having Pawan Kalyan on his side is more important than having the BJP alone,” a TDP source said. The BJP has also maintained close ties with Pawan Kalyan in order to woo the Kapu community and establish its presence in Andhra Pradesh. However, it has so far been unsuccessful.
With the BRS launching operations in Andhra Pradesh, a large number of leaders who previously served in the Congress and Praja Rajyam Parties, as well as the TDP and the JSP, have expressed an interest in joining the party. Several leaders have already joined the BRS, including former Minister Ravela Kishore Babu, Thota Chandrasekhar, Parthasarathi, and others, and the party leadership, led by BRS AP president Chandrasekhar, has already expedited plans to expand its activities across the State.
“Unless the TDP or the JSP gives a shoulder, the BJP has grim chance of surviving after the 2024 Assembly elections and the BJP leaders in Andhra Pradesh too are aware of it. “One should not be surprised if the BJP joins forces with the YSRCP to remain relevant,” said S Ram Prasad, a Visakhapatnam-based political analyst.
