The Bharatiya Janata Party in Andhra Pradesh is in a state of confusion and uncertainty over its future course of action in the state, even as former Union minister and party’s national general secretary Daggubati Purandeshwari is all set to take charge as the state unit president on Thursday.
In the last three years, the Andhra BJP under the leadership of Somu Veerraju has not been able to take any programme of action to activate the party in the state.
Except for issuing statements now and then and posting messages on social media, the party leaders have not taken up any concrete action plan to project it as an alternative political force.
The BJP, which had won four assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh in 2014 elections in alliance with the Telugu Desam Party, was reduced to a virtual non-entity in 2019 elections, after both the parties parted ways.
The BJP drew a total blank in both the assembly and Lok Sabha elections, securing only 0.85% votes, which was much less than 1.28% votes polled under NOTA (none of the above).
“Despite knowing the fact that the people have rejected the BJP, they are still day-dreaming of emerging as an alternative force in the state without making any efforts in that direction,” political observer said.
The BJP lacks the basic characteristic to become a powerful opposition – of taking a clear stand against the ruling YSR Congress party and leading movements against the government’s alleged anti-people’s policies.
“Instead, the BJP leaders in Andhra are targeting the opposition Telugu Desam Party more than the ruling YSRC,” an analyst said.
The BJP entered into an alliance with the Jana Sena Party headed by popular actor Pawan Kalyan, hoping to get some seats using the charm of the actor. But it has made no efforts to sustain this alliance and with the party not able to take a tough stand against the YSRCP, Pawan Kalyan tilted towards the TDP.
Under these circumstances, Purandeshwari is taking charge as the state BJP chief. But there is little scope for her to turnaround the party prospects unless she takes a stubborn anti-Jagan stand, rather than following the same old line of targeting the TDP and forgetting the YSRC.