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NEW DELHI: Gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls coming up in less than a year, BJP on Tuesday implemented some organisational changes, starting with some state units, essentially where the party is in opposition.
However, even as BJP appointed new leaders in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Punjab, the Karnataka unit of the party is still waiting for a new state party chief and a leader of opposition in the assembly which is in its second session since the May 13 results, when the party lost to Congress in a big way.
While consultations are still on, with the party having sent out two observers to the state on Tuesday who will communicate the central leadership’s views to the state unit, it is a difficult choice for BJP as most of its tall leaders have lost the assembly polls and credibility on the ground. The announcement for Karnataka is likely to come within days, according to sources.
The appointment of D Purandeshwari, as party chief in Andhra Pradesh is clear indication that BJP hopes to tie-up with N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, say sources, as equations between the two leaders have improved over the last few years which would make it easier to coordinate. NTR’s daughter Purandeshwari, who had moved to BJP from Congress after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and NTR’s son-in-law Naidu had been archrivals earlier, as Naidu had taken over NTR’s TDP legacy. But since BJP has very little presence in Andhra Pradesh on its own, the saffron party would have to ally with TDP in keeping their hold on the state. If the state goes for elections alongside the Lok Sabha polls, both allies are likely to benefit from it.
Having posted Union minister G Kishan Reddy as party chief in Telangana, replacing Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has already created some heartache as is evident from Bandi Sanjay’s tweet soon after the notification of the appointment. “Some chapters in our lives have to close without closure. Keep me in your blessings, in case I have unintentionally hurt anyone during my tenure. I am happy that I am not a sad story but all of you have given me the most memorable moments – be it staying with me during arrests, standing by when attacked or laughing in moments of joy,” he tweeted soon after the announcement of Reddy’s appointment.
The party has also appointed veteran OBC leader Etela Rajender, who had switched from TRS, as its election management committee chairperson in Telangana where assembly polls are due later this year. While there is talk about Sanjay being inducted at the Centre, clearly the outgoing BJP Telangana chief has not taken the replacement well. BJP had gained some visibility in the state during Sanjay’s tenure as party chief, but post the party’s crushing defeat in neighbouring Karnataka, BJP has woken up to the fact that new entrants to the party were against the leadership of Sanjay, who failed to take them along.
Etela Rajender had met the central leadership only a couple of weeks back and was known to be disgruntled about Sanjay’s leadership in the state. By elevating Rajender, an influential regional leader, and removing Kumar, the party has sent out a signal to those looking for greener pastures in the state’s triangular politics.
However, even as BJP appointed new leaders in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Punjab, the Karnataka unit of the party is still waiting for a new state party chief and a leader of opposition in the assembly which is in its second session since the May 13 results, when the party lost to Congress in a big way.
While consultations are still on, with the party having sent out two observers to the state on Tuesday who will communicate the central leadership’s views to the state unit, it is a difficult choice for BJP as most of its tall leaders have lost the assembly polls and credibility on the ground. The announcement for Karnataka is likely to come within days, according to sources.
The appointment of D Purandeshwari, as party chief in Andhra Pradesh is clear indication that BJP hopes to tie-up with N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, say sources, as equations between the two leaders have improved over the last few years which would make it easier to coordinate. NTR’s daughter Purandeshwari, who had moved to BJP from Congress after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and NTR’s son-in-law Naidu had been archrivals earlier, as Naidu had taken over NTR’s TDP legacy. But since BJP has very little presence in Andhra Pradesh on its own, the saffron party would have to ally with TDP in keeping their hold on the state. If the state goes for elections alongside the Lok Sabha polls, both allies are likely to benefit from it.
Having posted Union minister G Kishan Reddy as party chief in Telangana, replacing Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has already created some heartache as is evident from Bandi Sanjay’s tweet soon after the notification of the appointment. “Some chapters in our lives have to close without closure. Keep me in your blessings, in case I have unintentionally hurt anyone during my tenure. I am happy that I am not a sad story but all of you have given me the most memorable moments – be it staying with me during arrests, standing by when attacked or laughing in moments of joy,” he tweeted soon after the announcement of Reddy’s appointment.
The party has also appointed veteran OBC leader Etela Rajender, who had switched from TRS, as its election management committee chairperson in Telangana where assembly polls are due later this year. While there is talk about Sanjay being inducted at the Centre, clearly the outgoing BJP Telangana chief has not taken the replacement well. BJP had gained some visibility in the state during Sanjay’s tenure as party chief, but post the party’s crushing defeat in neighbouring Karnataka, BJP has woken up to the fact that new entrants to the party were against the leadership of Sanjay, who failed to take them along.
Etela Rajender had met the central leadership only a couple of weeks back and was known to be disgruntled about Sanjay’s leadership in the state. By elevating Rajender, an influential regional leader, and removing Kumar, the party has sent out a signal to those looking for greener pastures in the state’s triangular politics.
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