Hyderabad: BJP which has decided to contest in all 119 assembly constituencies in the ensuing Telangana assembly elections is struggling for good candidates. BJP leaders are saying that they will come to power in Telangana but political pundits are saying that their main aim is to split the anti-government votes to ensure that bulk of these votes are not taken by the Congress. This move will also help TRS in some constituencies.
But the BJP that is known as an urban oriented party is not able to find strong candidates in the GHMC limits itself. Despite being in power at the Centre, BJP lacks strong candidates in the GHMC limits. In the GHMC limits there are 24 assembly constituencies and in the previous elections it had won 5 seats with the TD alliance. According to Telangana BJP sources, former Union Minister and MP Mr. Bandaru Dattatreya will contest from Sanathnagar against Minister Mr. Talasani Srinivasa Yadav. BJP MLMr. C N Ramachandra Rao will contest from Malkajgiri assembly constituency.
With lack of strong leaders BJP has decided to field some candidates who are not even BJP members. BJP has identified one businessman from AP to be fielded from Serilimgampally. In the Qutbullapur assembly constituency, a strong TRS leader is likely to join the BJP. If this happens, BJP will field him from that constituency. But in some assembly constituencies in the rural areas, BJP is not able to find any candidate to field. Compared to AP, BJP is weak in Telangana area. BJP leaders are waiting for defectors from TRS and Congress.
Meanwhile, in many assembly constituencies TRS candidates are facing dissidence from their own party leaders. Some leaders are resigning from the TRS. BJP is expecting the same situation in Congress as well once the party announces its candidates. With the grand alliance, many leaders in Congress and TD may also be denied tickets from their parties. BJP is expecting such a situation to arise in TRS, Congress and TD and is waiting to take advantage of this. According to sources BJP has decided to contest in all assembly constituencies to split the anti-government votes. The main aim is to see that the anti government votes should not to go to Congress. This will help TRS indirectly in wining some seats.
