Vijayawada: The Vijayawada city unit of BJP is worried over rumours of YSRC MLA Jaleel Khan's entry into the TD. Even Jaleel Khan condemned the rumours but the TD’s silence over the matter is causing more anxiety among the BJP leaders. During last general elections, it was the BJP which contested from the Vijayawada West segment, with its ally, TD’s support but the YSRC candidate Jaleel Khan won with the support of a sizeable Muslim vote bank.
If the TD has invited MLA Jaleel Khan, then the BJP might lose a chance to even contest from the constituency in the next Assembly election, even if the two parties have a tie-up. In 2014 general polls, former MLA Vellampalli Srinivas contested on the BJP ticket and was defeated but he still plays an active role in local politics. Besides, several local and film personalities are also showing interest in joining the BJP’s city unit. However, the TD leadership has not interacted with the BJP city unit leaders over the ongoing developments.
Significantly, even YSRC MLA Jaleel Khan condemned the rumours on likelihood of switching loyalties. The BJP city unit is angry over the new political developments. The BJP has a sizeable traditional vote bank in the Vijayawada central constituency. The party leaders made several efforts to get the ticket for contesting from the central constituency. As part of its tie-up with the TD, it was allotted the West seat. If Jaleel Khan joins the TD, the ticket should be given to him only in the next Assembly polls as he had already won twice from the constituency and this is worrying the BJP in the city, of late.
