Amit Shah sets out on 'Mission AP'
HYDERABAD: The BJP central leadership has begun focusing its attention on both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where the Congress appears to have been relegated to a 'wallflower' role post-bifurcation.
With a sole aim to strengthen the BJP in both the States and formulate strategies to realise the party's dream of capturing power in Telangana by 2019 polls, party president Amit Shah is all set to descend on Hyderabad on Dec 20. He is expected to visit AP on Dec 21. The party's TS and AP leaders are holding talks with key leaders from other parties to make them join the BJP during Shah's visit.
According to sources, as far as AP is concerned, several Congress seniors like ex-CM N Kiran Kumar Reddy, former APCC boss Botcha Satyanarayana, former Minister DL Ravindra Reddy, Anam brothers and Kandula brothers are evincing interest to jump onto the BJP bandwagon. Besides former Minister Konathala Ramakrishna, who quit YSRC recently, some disgruntled leaders of YSRC are also said to be in touch with BJP leadership.
'As we are launching the party's membership drive in TS and AP from Sunday, our party national president will be coming to Hyderabad on Dec 20 to review the membership drive in TS', party Telangana chief G Kishan Reddy. Reddy said several leaders from other parties were showing interest to join the BJP during Shah's visit.
However, the exact date of Shah's tour in AP would be finalised after consultations with party's AP unit, he added. BJP AP unit chief Kambhampati Haribabu told that they were expecting Shah to visit AP either in December or January.
Sources said since BJP has no traditional base in AP, the party leadership wants to establish a firm base for it by admitting powerful politicos from the Congress, who have mass appeal among grassroots workers, in order to make it a formidable alternative to the TDP in AP by 2019 polls.
As part of this, the party leadership has succeeded in inducting former Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, who has considerable clout among Kapus, into the party.
Now, it is concentrating on attracting another powerful community, Reddy, who constitute a major chunk of population in Rayalaseema. Hence, the membership drive, which will be launched on Sunday in both TS and AP, will concentrate on strengthening the party in both the States.
News Posted: 30 November, 2014
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