Can BJP become major player in AP?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have made it clear that they want to spread their party wings to all over the country, particularly to southern India. Although, they have alliance with TDP in AP and Telangana states, its presidents Kambampati Hari Babu and Kishan Reddy are dreaming to make their party emerge as alternative to the regional players like TDP, TRS and YSR Congress parties. Comparatively BJP is a little bit strong in Telangana, but it couldn’t overpower the regional TRS party in the general elections, even though it joins hands with TDP.
However, it is benefitted in AP as its alliance group has comes into power. But, BJP state president K Hari Babu believes still there is a political vacuum in the state. He is quite confident to fill that gap. He said “While our alliance with TDP continues as usual, we will try to strengthen our party base in the state to emerge as alternative source to the rest. It is too early to speak on whether our alliance with TDP will continue in 2019 general elections or not.”
If, BJP also wants to emerge as major player in the state, then what about Congress and YSR Congress parties? Congress party has ruled the state for last ten years but lost the elections due known reasons. But, one can’t underestimate its power as it has seen many ups and downs in its history and there are many stalwarts in the party, who have a good following in the people. Although, YSR Congress party fails to win the elections, it fared very well in its first attempt.
If, CBI court spares its president Jagan Mohan Reddy from his illegal assets cases, definitely he will challenge both ruling TDP and Congress party in the 2019 elections. These three big players have a strong cadre and good following among the people, whereas BJP presence hardly felt in the state till recent past. So, it can’t simply dream to emerge as alternative to these three players, merely because a handful of leaders from other parties have joined it.
Hari Babu may be relying on Modi’s influence and popularity, but it is not enough to make his party as front runner in 2019 general elections. It may take at least one or two decades to BJP to dream such fantasies in the state, that too only if all its leaders put sincere efforts.