It is a fact that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has struggled to make an impact in Andhra Pradesh politics, despite its vigorous efforts.
In the 2019 elections, the party received less than one percent of the vote share, significantly lower than the votes polled under NOTA (None of the Above).
The party had made attempts to establish a foothold in the state in the past, but those efforts did not succeed.
The primary reason for the BJP's inability to grow in Andhra Pradesh is believed to be the cunning politics of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, with the involvement of former Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu.
However, former chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh and current BJP leader I Y R Krishna Rao holds the view that two major Telugu dailies – Eenadu, headed by Ch Ramoji Rao, and Andhra Jyothy, headed by V Radha Krishna, are equally responsible for suppressing the BJP in the state.
Krishna Rao took to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday to express that media moghul Ramoji Rao and media nawab Radha Krishna had launched a malicious campaign against the BJP after the bifurcation of combined Andhra Pradesh.
“Since 2014, these two media barons have been fabricating false narratives and spreading misinformation against the BJP in the state, claiming that it had done injustice to Andhra Pradesh,” he stated.
The former chief secretary pointed out that due to Ramoji Rao and Radha Krishna, the BJP had suffered irreversible damage in Andhra Pradesh despite being innocent of the accusations.
He acknowledged BJP national president J P Nadda's positive approach towards these media figures and commended him for his kind gesture.
Krishna Rao expressed hope that Ramoji Rao and Radha Krishna would now report news impartially, without any biased agenda, so that readers could receive unbiased information.
Krishna Rao had previously served as the chief secretary during the Chandrababu Naidu regime but later distanced himself.
He has been openly expressing his views on various issues, including Amaravati and the Jagan government.