Even after formally declaring that BJP is locked into an alliance with TDP and Jana Sena in Andhra Pradesh for the forthcoming polls, a week ago, the parties are silent on the number of seats to be contested by BJP. No candidate figured in BJP’s two list of candidates released so far for Lok Sabha polls.
Recently union minister Gajendra Singh Shekwat was deputed by the BJP high-command to discuss seat sharing issue with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu. Almost the entire day he spent at Naidu’s house and held intense discussions in the presence of Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan.
But, he left Vijayawada without giving any clue to the media on the number of seats to be contested by BJP. State BJP leaders are also maintaining silence on this issue. Both TDP and Jana Sena are indicating the number of seats to be contested by their respective parties, but are silent on BJP seats. Inspite of giving some leak to the media on the number of seats left for the BJP, they were not mentioning exact seats left for the BJP.
The BJP secured less than NOTA votes in 2019 polls in Andhra Pradesh. Its vote share was less than 1 per cent. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has recently reportedly admitted with some media persons that BJP’s presence in Andhra Pradesh is nominal and less than NOTA votes.
However, BJP is insisting on lion share in Lok Sabha seats stating that they need to reach their target of 370 seats at national level. As BJP is not finding any chance of improving its seats in the Southern states, it is said to be attempting pressure tactics on TDP to get more seats.
Sources close to BJP indicated that their party high-command has been insisting for 10 Lok Sabha and 15 Assembly seats. But keeping in view of BJP’s strength at ground-level, Chandrababu Naidu offered 5 Lok Sabha and 3 Assembly seats.
However, Pawan Kalyan, who has been making intense lobbying with BJP to realise this alliance, has offered to give up his quota seats, including 1 Lok Sabha and 3 Assembly seats. The TDP also came forward to give 1 more assembly seats.
Thus, TDP and Jana Sena agreed to give 6 Lok Sabha and 6 Assembly seats to BJP. But, as the BJP high-command is reportedly yet to confirm its commitment for these numbers of seats.
Both TDP and Jana Sena cadre are worrying that any seat left to BJP amounts to losing to ruling YSRCP, in view of the poor presence of BJP at gross-root.
Jagan’s coverts in BJP lobbying against seat for Raghuramkrishnam Raju!
Though political compulsions forced BJP top leadership to ally with TDP in Andhra Pradesh, sensing severe anti-government sentiments prevailed in the state against YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime, some BJP leaders, whose proximity with Jaganmohan Reddy seems to be making hectic moves to deny seats for known Jagan opponents.
Narasapuram rebel MP Raghuramakrishnam Raju alleged that BJP state vice president Vishnukumar Reddy has been lobbying to deny seat in Narsapur on the direction of Jagan Mohan Reddy. Interestingly, BJP leadership is silent on his allegations.
Raghu Rama Krishnamraju said that Jaganmohan Reddy has made every effort to ensure that TDP does not have an alliance with BJP. Even four days before the alliance, he said Jagan made last minute efforts to prevent BJP from joining hands with TDP.
As a last resort, he said that Jagan plotted to ensure as part of seat adjustments Narasapur goes to BJP and BJP may field some other candidate. Moreover, he alleged Jagan also proposed names of some candidates to be fielded on behalf of BJP.
He is confident that BJP leadership will not bow down to Jagan’s pressures and conspiracy against him. ‘Whatever Jagan’s efforts may be, I will contest from Narsapur and will from there with a thumping majority’, he asserted.
Narsapur MP wondered why BJP leader from Narasapuram Vishnuvardhan Reddy is campaigning against fielding him as a candidate in the elections? He questions Reddy’s motives and interests and accuses the BJP leader known for his proximity with YS Jagan is acting due to pressures from the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, according to sources Vishnuvardhan Reddy was reportedly fielded by Jagan Mohan Reddy to break the efforts of alliance between TDP and BJP. But this was taken seriously by the BJP leadership and national leadership cautioned him in this regard. They made it clear that only national leadership will take a decision on this issue and in the state only state president D Purandeswari is empowered to react.
Being YSRCP MP, as Rahhuram Krishnam Raju is fighting against YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s `misrule’ for the last four years, the chief minister is said to be lobbying seriously with BJP top leadership to deny his seat.
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