Vijayawada: All is not well in the State BJP unit even though there are efforts by the Central leadership to infuse some confidence among the cadre to face the onslaught unleashed by its former ally TD.
Of the total four MLAs in the BJP, Akula Satyanarayana, who represents Rajahm-undry Assembly segment, had quit the party and joined Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena, Vizag North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju too is said to be waiting for an opportunity to jump in.
Another MLA Kamineni Sriniva Rao had become inactive in the party ever since he lost his ministerial post after the TD snapped ties with the BJP-led NDA. Only MLA Pydikondala Manika-yala Rao has been active and more vocal about the party.
Though Rao has been active in the party programmes and was made the State Manifesto Committee chairperson, former Union minister Daggubati Purandeswari is said to be thinking over quitting politics if her son Hitesh joins YSRC like it was speculated since some time.
Vishnu Kumar Raju, who is the floor leader of the party in the AP Assembly, has been inactive in the party programmes in Vizag. Though he was telling his close confidants that he will contest from the same Vizag North constituency, Raju was non-committal whether it will be on a BJP ticket or not.
Both Raju and Satyanarayana were unhappy with the party’s Central leadership over the failure in implementing the promises of Special Category Status (SCS), setting up new railway zone, Steel Plant at Kadapa, major Port at Dugarajapatnam Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) which TD had conveniently used it on its side for political gains.
In a private conversation, these MLAs had said that their political careers have been jeopardised due to the failed promises as people in Andhra Pradesh are looking at the BJP on a negative shade.
The BJP Central leadership had renewed its efforts in the state to strengthen the party at the grassroots, especially after the TD walked out of the NDA. The State party unit was also replaced by former minister Kanna Lakshminarayana who is known for his organisational skills. Party senior leader Sunil Deodhar, who is credited for bringing the BJP to power in the Left bastion in Tripura, has been appointed as the party co-in-charge. There has been hectic activity since the last six months in the way of cadre meetings across the state, protest programmes and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had interacted with the party leaders from 10 Parliament constituencies. All this was not able to placate the disgruntled BJP MLAs in the state.
“What else can they do? They have no option than quitting the party since it will be the end of their political career if they continue in the BJP in the state as people are seething with anger due to TD’s propaganda,” a state BJP leader said.
