Telengana development will be Bharatiya Janata Party’s poll plank

What are the prospects of BJP in Telangana?
BJP has a bright future in Telangana. It is the only party which was actively involved in the critical stages of Telang-ana formation right from spreading the ‘Telangana ideology’ in 1997 to taking part in the Constitutional process by extending support to the Telangana Bill. No other party can boast of such sincerity and commitment to the Telangana issue.

Congress is claiming to be the “T-giver” and the TRS the “T-achiever”, to seek votes. What will be the BJP’s plank to attract voters?
These ‘givers’ and ‘achievers’ do not matter anymore for people since the T-state is now a reality. What people want now is development of Telangana, creation of jobs, infrastructure facilities, growth in industries and agriculture, etc. They will think about who can offer better development in the new state. The BJP has a track record of achieving phenomenal growth at the Centre during the NDA regime and in various BJP-ruled states. Our prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi achieved phenomenal growth in Gujarat as Chief Minister and wants to replicate the same for the entire country. These are our plus points which other parties don’t have. This would be our main poll plank.

Do you think you can defeat the Congress and TRS?
The Congress is responsible for the backwardness of Telangana. The TRS has only been involved in the agitations so far but has never concentrated on development of the Telangana region. We will take all these issues to the public to seek votes.

Your central leadership is vying for an alliance with the TDP. What’s your take on this?
We don’t want any alliance with the TDP in Telangana. It would be suicidal for the party to sail with the TDP, which has a negative image in Telangana for obstructing the formation of the Telangana state. It will only help the TDP to survive in the Telangana state by taking shelter under the BJP. We have urged our leadership to consider an alliance with the TDP only for the Seemandhra region.

Is it possible for such a tie-up with the TDP?
Why not? Both are different states. The BJP is fighting polls on separate manifestos in both the states. The TDP is a regional party. No regional party in the country has ever survived in two different states. Similarly, the TDP should take a decision whether it wants Telangana or Seemandhra. Since it’s a party run by Seemandhra people, Seemandhra region will be it’s natural option. The TDP has no option but to shut shop in Telangana sooner or later. It cannot survive in two states.

What if the BJP-TD alliance is approved?
We will abide by the party high command’s decision. However, the alliance should be on BJP’s terms and not on TD’s since we are stronger in the Telangana state than the TD.