Bandi Sanjay Kumar, the Lok Sabha member representing Karimnagar, played a pivotal role in revitalizing the BJP in Telangana during his three-year tenure as the BJP Telangana president from 2020 to 2023. He posed a significant challenge to the ruling BRS party and the opposition Congress in Telangana.
Under Sanjay's leadership, the BJP emerged as a formidable political force in Telangana and even supplanted Congress as the primary opposition to the BRS.
The BJP secured victories in the Dubbak and Huzurabad Assembly polls, defeating the BRS.
It created a sensation in the GHMC elections in December 2020 by becoming the second-largest party in the GHMC after the BRS. Additionally, it gave a tough fight to the BRS in the Munugode by-election in 2022.
Despite these achievements, the BJP high command abruptly removed Sanjay from the post of BJP Telangana president last month, succumbing to pressure from an anti-Sanjay faction led by Etala Rajender and Dharmapuri Aravind.
Subsequently, the BJP high command appointed Bandi Sanjay as the national general secretary. Reportedly, the party high command has decided to utilize Bandi Sanjay's services in Andhra Pradesh, along with Telangana and a few other states.
For the first time, it is reported that Bandi Sanjay will tour Andhra Pradesh on August 21 to hold meetings with party leaders to discuss strengthening the BJP in AP.
In Andhra Pradesh, the BJP does not have a significant presence and holds no representation in either the Lok Sabha or the Legislative Assembly.
The question looming large is whether Bandi Sanjay can replicate his success in Andhra Pradesh as he did in Telangana. The political and social dynamics in Telangana differ significantly. Telangana has a history of Nizam rule and a considerable Muslim population.
Bandi Sanjay was able to polarize Hindu voters in Telangana with his fiery speeches on Muslims and Muslim leaders. The Muslim population in Telangana is over 13 percent, while in AP, it is around 7 percent.
Bandi Sanjay's visit to Vijayawada on August 21 is being closely observed in AP political circles.