TDP & Pawan Alliance: BJP In A Fix?

The politics in Andhra Pradesh witnessed swift and radical developments in the last month. Opposition leader and former CM Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest under skill development scam case and case against Nara Lokesh in alleged Inner Ring Road (IRR) scam of Amaravati, has indicated that the state will be witnessing more drama and political fight in the coming days.

Chandrababu in Rajahmundry Central Jail has invoked reaction from Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan who announced the TDP – Janasena alliance in the coming polls. This is something not new. However, the timing of this announcement made a huge impact. Pawan also commented that TDP and Janasena alliance is fixed and the two parties are hoping that BJP would join them. Pawan is optimistic and left the ball in BJP’s court.

Though AP BJP chief Purandheswari made soft comments towards Chandrababu over his arrest, BJP hasn’t officially made its stand clear. Also, the party hasn’t responded to Pawan’s open invitation to join the alliance. Even the BJP’s central leadership is tight lipped over its former ally Chandrababu’s arrest.

Amidst all this, AP BJP Core Committee convened a top-chair meeting on Tuesday to discuss the prevailing political conditions in the state.The core leaders of the AP BJP opined that the party needs to take a stand soon and make it official on Naidu’s arrest and its alliance plans.

Some AP BJP leaders arrived at the conclusion of heading to Delhi to meet the party’s top brass to discuss the future course of action of the party in Andhra Pradesh. AP BJP president Daggubati Purandheswari, ex CM Kiran Kumar Reddy, Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha Rao, Sujana Chowdary and former MLC Madhav attended the core meeting.

Though BJP seems to be targeting CM Jagan and his administration at the outset, majority of the opinion is that it is having a secret pact with YSRCP in the state. It is also observed that the BJP is making its moves very thoughtfully by maintaining equal distance from ruling YSRCP and opposition TDP. With BJP’s ally Janasena joining forces with TDP, BJP is now in a fix to either go with YSRCP or join the TDP – Janasena pact.