Vijayawada: The BJP is banking on attracting the Kapu vote bank as it works to strengthen the party in Andhra Pradesh following the fadeout of the Congress and the Communists.
The Kapu vote decides the winning chances in several districts with a sizable 25 per cent vote bank spread throughout the state. The BJP leadership believes that it has a traditional vote bank of nearly 6 per cent, and it can only get more in the present political scenario.
Following an analysis of the vote spread, the BJP has focused on securing the Kapu vote bank. Former minister and senior Congress leader, Kanna Laxminarayana, who also belongs to Kapu community, joined the BJP in line with the party’s plans.
Other Kapu leaders are expected to join the party in a meeting which will be conducted at Guntur. Mr Laxminarayana confirmed that the meeting would be held soon.
Apart from this, film actor and Jana Sena chief, Pawan Kalyan, has campaigned in support of the Prime Minister. The BJP plans to build on the impact of the campaign, and the pull associated with the Modi factor. Senior BJP leader, Y. Raghunath Babu said Pawan Kalyan’s tie-up with the BJP would completely turn the Kapu vote bank in favour of the BJP.
BJP AP state president, K. Hari Babu, said that there is political vacuum in AP with the Congress and the Jai Samaikyandhra Party having faded. He said that as per information some other parties will lose strength and senior leaders are in touch with them.
