What Is Kanna’s Next Move?

The removal of Kanna Lakshminarayana as the BJP president of AP state unit is certainly a major set back to the senior politician from Guntur district who is a five-time MLA and three-time minister of the state. After poll debacle in 2014, Kanna had joined BJP in Oct 2014 with a lot of hungama.

While he had made his plans to join YSRCP back then, BJP had stopped him and offered him to be the party’s State President role. Then BJP national president Amit Shah had announced Kanna as the AP BJP head in May 2018. This hadn’t go down well with MLC Somu Veerraju who was expecting the post then. Somu Veerraju was persuaded and he was made the Convenor of the Election Committee of the party.

However, within just two years, tables have turned in the party. The party’s central leadership is reportedly unhappy with Kanna. While the allegations like misuse of party funds poured in from various corners, leaders like Vijay Sai Reddy had openly alleged Kanna of taking bribe of Rs 20 Crore and acting in favour of TDP. These seems to have built pressure on BJP’s top leadership. All these seems to have led to pass the mantle to Somu Veerraju. Now, the moot question on many lips is that what will be Kanna Lakshminarayana’s next move.

Since Kanna has developed enmity with the likes of Vijay Sai Reddy, the doors of YCP are not open to Kanna now. In fact, Janasena too is in alliance with BJP. So, in a way that doors are also closed. And Kanna wouldn’t be interested to join Pawan’s party either. And the only option currently in the state is TDP.

Meanwhile, even Kanna may not immediately switch the party as it is not a smart move. While TDP is in Opposition, it has to be in Opposition for next 4 years. On the other hand, BJP is ruling at the Centre and staying back in BJP could get him any national posts or any nominated posts. He may wait till the end of 2023 or early 2024 and may take a smart move. For now, he has to bear with the embarrassment and continue in BJP for a while.