When it comes to Andhra politics, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) always carries Telugu Desam (TDP) with it to win. Its supremo Chandra Babu Naidu got benefited due to Modi ‘wave’ in 2014 elections, and won the elections defeating his closest rival Jagan Mohan Reddy. But in 2019 polls, Naidu differed with BJP and lost the elections.
Again in 2024 general elections, Naidu somehow made patches with BJP and together with Jana Sena encountering Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party. By all counts, the alliance, TDP+BJP+JSP, is formed with single objective to take on the Jagan Mohan Reddy, proves to be a heard nut. It is still to be seen, whether this coalition will work or not.
The BJP is raiding on religion and Modi charisma, but the ground level workers of BJP are showing their displeasure. They are not able to forget the serious attacks by Naidu on Modi after scrapping the alliance in 2018. The political observers see that the BJP workers may not put in their best in the elections, this time.
Although, it is known fact that BJP on its own is not a power in the state, but certainly make a difference to TDP and JSP in getting winning votes.
BJP is contesting in 6 Lok Sabha seats out of 25. TDP would contest in 17 seats and JSP 2 seats. Coming to Assembly, TDP will contest in 144 seats, JSP in 21 and BJP in 10 seats. It clearly shows that BJP bargained hard to get 6 Lok Sabha seats, while it is contesting only 10 assembly seats.
While BJP voting share is less than one percent in 2019 elections, a fall from 4 per cent in 2014.
BJP has to answer to people about the contagious issues the Special Category Status (SCS), completion of Polavaram project, sale of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant etc., which it failed to answer for the last five years.
The people anticipated some assurance may be given by Modi in the recent public meeting, however the Prime Minister kept speaking on issues of national politics but no specifics about the State.
The people of the state expect, Modi will speak out on the privatization of Vizag Steel Plant, on the lines of NMDC’s Nagarnar Steel plant in Chhattisgarh. For instance, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured that it will not be privatise the plant. TDP might be benefited if any assurance given by Modi in his first appearance after the alliance was formed.
Let us see, would these 6 MP seats make any difference to Modi in he becoming Prime Minister for the third time in a row.
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