All eyes on Pawan’s participation in NDA meet in Delhi today
Marthi Subrahmanyam
Vijayawada
Will any regional party in Andhra Pradesh benefit from alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) benefit in the ensuing general elections? The ground reality suggests a negative outcome in such an eventuality. The electorate’s disappointment with the BJP’s failure to grant Special Category Status (SCS), establish a railway zone, and address the issues surrounding the privatisation of Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) and the creation of three capital cities has fuelled anger towards the party.
Jana Sena chief K Pawan Kalyan was invited to attend an NDA meeting by the BJP leadership in New Delhi on Tuesday. This has led to a heated debate on whether the alliance between Jana Sena Party (JSP) and BJP will continue, and whether they will contest the upcoming 2024 elections together. Political experts speculate that any regional party aligning with the BJP would face the wrath of the people, potentially damaging their electoral prospects. Notably, JSP supporters predominantly consist of labourers, daily wage earners, youth, students, and Muslims. If JSP joins forces with the BJP, it is expected that voters from these sections will likely shift their loyalty towards the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), according to a political analyst.
“The current political situation in Andhra Pradesh is unfavourable for the BJP. The people have not forgotten the denial of SCS, the uncertainty surrounding Amaravati as the capital city, the railway zone issue, the establishment of a steel factory in Kadapa, delays in the construction of the Polavaram project, the proposed sea port, and the privatisation of VSP. The BJP’s attempts to address communal issues, similar to those in northern Indian states, are unlikely to resonate with Andhra Pradesh voters. Any party aligning with the BJP will likely bear the brunt of the electorate’s dissatisfaction,” states the analyst.
Furthermore, a section of the Dalit community has thrown their support behind the TDP due to reported attacks by leaders of the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP). The TDP effectively capitalised on these incidents, connecting with the Dalit community and yielding positive results.
However, a significant portion of the Kapu community favours the JSP, while the ruling YSRCP enjoys full support from Christians and converted Dalit Christians.
“In this complex political landscape of Andhra Pradesh, if the TDP were to align with the BJP, the TDP would likely suffer losses as the people of the state have lost trust in the BJP. Conversely, an alliance with the TDP could benefit the BJP in constituencies where the TDP holds influence,” states a senior politician.
Meanwhile, another politician suggests that if the TDP were to align with the BJP, it would help the TDP combat the YSRCP’s alleged malpractices, such as booth capturing, the presence of bogus voters, and other election irregularities, since central forces would be deployed.
As the political scenario unfolds in Andhra Pradesh, the decision regarding alliances and its subsequent impact on electoral prospects remains a matter of great significance. The upcoming 2024 elections will provide a clearer picture of how voters respond to these alliances and the broader political landscape of the State.
