New Delhi: If there may be one place the place the Congress victory in Karnataka appears to have forged a shadow on the BJP’s prospects, it’s the southern state of Telangana, resulting from go to polls this year-end.
Ever for the reason that Karnataka defeat, inside feuds over the management of the Telangana BJP unit have spilled into public view. There additionally appears to be a deepening divide over “new entrants” from different events and the outdated guard.
Off the document, social gathering leaders admit that the BJP is now discovering it more and more powerful to draw in addition to retain defectors from the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) and the Congress.
Compounding these challenges is a dearth of adequate grassroots cadres to tackle the ruling Okay. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR)-led BRS authorities, BJP sources mentioned.
Whereas Telangana BJP leaders reportedly confirmed their shared dedication to ousting the KCR authorities throughout the state BJP govt assembly Monday, latest occasions point out a scarcity of consensus on the technique to realize this goal.
Final week, a gaggle of leaders led by Huzurabad MLA Rajender Eatala — a former confidant of KCR — approached Union Residence Minister Amit Shah to precise their grievances, together with their dissatisfaction with state social gathering chief Sanjay Bandi, recognized for his communal statements and abrasive type.
Most members of this group, together with Eatala, have been turncoats who had joined the BJP solely after the 2018 meeting elections.
BJP sources instructed ThePrint that Eatala had apprised Shah concerning the social gathering’s challenges in Telangana, together with the hesitation of dissidents and fence-sitters to hitch the BJP.
They claimed Eatala had mentioned that this reluctance stemmed from the BJP’s Karnataka loss, and that some leaders now wished to attend for the BRS to announce its choice on tickets earlier than making any strikes.
“Rajender not solely briefed the house minister on the state’s scenario but additionally expressed issues concerning the social gathering shedding momentum and its incapacity to capitalise on anti-incumbency towards Okay. Chandrashekar Rao,” a Telangana BJP chief instructed ThePrint on situation of anonymity.
This chief additional claimed that Eatala had criticised the BJP state unit’s failure to deal with the “bread-and-butter problems with the individuals”, complained concerning the “autocratic” behaviour of Sanjay Bandi, and highlighted that inductees to the BJP from different events have been being excluded from decision-making.
In response to those complaints, sources mentioned, Amit Shah requested Eatala to give attention to reuniting leaders to keep up momentum within the state earlier than the election. Shah additionally reportedly gave directions to make efforts to poach disgruntled leaders from events just like the BRS.
Sources added that the social gathering is forming a marketing campaign committee in Telangana, and giving Eatala the job of helming it to convey peace to the state unit earlier than the election.
“Shah assured Rajender that the social gathering would think about participating (new) leaders within the upcoming days for marketing campaign technique and administration within the state,” a second Telangana BJP chief mentioned.
For now, it doesn’t seem as if Sanjay Bandi — a choose of the excessive command— will probably be changed with one other state chief, social gathering sources instructed ThePrint, including that even Amit Shah had hinted at this.
“The social gathering is unwilling to take that threat as it might expose additional fissures, particularly for the reason that state is already in election mode,” mentioned the primary Telangana BJP chief.
“Nevertheless, the social gathering goals to bridge gaps between totally different factions by placating Rajender and involving him within the marketing campaign committee or administration committee,” the chief added.
Requested about rifts within the Telangana unit, BJP MP and OBC Morcha head Okay. Laxman instructed ThePrint that variations might be ironed out.
“The social gathering is united in its goal to defeat the KCR authorities. Like in a giant household, variations of opinion exist within the social gathering, nevertheless it doesn’t imply that a number of members are towards the social gathering and leaving,” he mentioned. “Everyone’s goal is to defeat KCR, who has grow to be extremely unpopular within the state.”
Additionally Learn: ‘Demotivated staff, party-govt disconnect’ — BJP leaders in MP on alert forward of state polls
Spats out within the open
The BJP faces a slew of challenges because it gears as much as put up a aggressive battle towards the BRS for Telangana’s 119 seats, together with public criticism from inside its ranks.
Throughout a go to to Delhi final week, former MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy instructed mediapersons that extra effort needs to be made to battle towards the BRS and that leaders should gear as much as problem the KCR authorities collectively.
He additionally hinted that many individuals consider that the BJP has been unable to capitalise on anti-incumbency within the state.
Konda, who was within the Congress and the BRS earlier than becoming a member of the BJP in 2018, is among the many leaders urging the excessive command for Bandi’s alternative as state president, in accordance with sources.
In an interview with a neighborhood channel, Konda additionally criticised the BJP for the delay within the arrest of KCR’s daughter, Okay. Kavitha. Nevertheless, he later retracted his assertion, clarifying that events don’t make arrests and it’s the choice of central businesses after a name from the social gathering excessive command.
Kavitha, a BRS chief, has been subjected to questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in reference to the so-called Delhi liquor rip-off.
Talking to ThePrint, a BJP chief from the so-called “Rajender Eatala camp” mentioned that they’d communicated their issues to the house minister, who had suggested them to train endurance in the interim.
This chief claimed that underneath Sanjay Bandi’s management, the Telangana BJP was specializing in ideological reasonably than substantive points, which may price the social gathering.
“Bandi believes that the Telangana election will be gained by emphasising the Hindutva concern. This month, (Assam CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the state to lift ideological points, which can have restricted success in minority-dominated areas,” the chief mentioned. “Nevertheless, throughout the state, with out a sturdy cadre and addressing problems with corruption, mismanagement of funds, and unemployment, we can’t defeat the BRS.”
“After their victory, the morale of Congress is boosted, and so they have the potential to divide the anti-incumbency vote if our choices will not be taken properly,” he added.
Considerably, one of many causes usually cited for the BJP’s loss in Karnataka is the marketing campaign’s disproportionate emphasis on ideology reasonably than native points.
In the meantime, amid reviews that BJP “dissidents” have been planning to stroll out — together with an open invitation from state Congress chief Revanth Reddy to hitch the social gathering— Eatala Rajender was fast to concern a clarification.
Taking to Twitter final week, he mentioned that it was not his follow to change events. He added that solely the BJP led by Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and J.P. Nadda may finish “KCR’s dictatorial rule”.
would have the ability to do that. The BJP leaders within the state of Telangana are united and continually attempt to proudly kind BJP’s authorities in Telangana. It’s not my follow to change events, and it’s inappropriate to publish such information with out consulting me.
— Eatala Rajender (@Eatala_Rajender) May 18, 2023
When requested concerning the rumours of disgruntled leaders wanting to go away the Telangana BJP, former MLA Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy — who’s purportedly a part of the Rajender Eatala camp — mentioned this was not the case.
“There isn’t any query of quitting the social gathering,” he mentioned. “The Congress has approached me with an invite however I’m not leaving and can defeat KCR within the meeting polls.”
Bandi issue
Ever since Sanjay Bandi assumed management of the BJP state unit in March 2020, he has courted controversy together with his communally charged remarks and confrontational type.
Nevertheless, he has the blessings of the BJP excessive command and is unlikely to be shifted from his put up, social gathering sources mentioned.
“It’s true that there’s friction between the brand new entrants and social gathering president Sanjay Bandi relating to the affairs of the state. Nevertheless, Sanjay is favoured by the BJP excessive command. Over the past BJP govt assembly, Prime Minister Modi praised Sanjay Bandi for his tireless efforts in moulding the BJP because the opposition social gathering within the state,” a senior Telangana BJP chief mentioned.
This chief acknowledged that Bandi’s type may come throughout as abrasive.
“His type of functioning, all the time able to seize media consideration by ridiculing others, can’t be known as gracious. Even Union minister G. Kishan Reddy and Rajya Sabha MP Okay. Laxman don’t respect Bandi’s type of functioning,” he claimed.
“Nevertheless, the excessive command favours his aggression. The one method ahead is to convey Eatala into the marketing campaign committee for the sleek working of affairs earlier than the polls,” the chief added.
One of many newest controversies involving Bandi erupted on 8 March, Worldwide Girls’s Day. When reporters requested him a query about Okay. Kavitha and the liquor rip-off allegations, he responded: “They requested me whether or not Kavita might be arrested. If not, what is going to they do? Will they kiss her?”
Weeks later, the Telangana Police detained Bandi, alleging his involvement in an SSC examination paper leak case, resulting in an outcry from the BJP towards the BRS authorities, which they termed “undemocratic”.
Nevertheless, a piece of the BJP was additionally offended by Bandi’s remarks on Kavitha.
In March, Nizamabad BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind held a press convention in Delhi to sentence Bandi’s remarks.
“Being the state president of a nationwide social gathering, he ought to have behaved extra responsibly. I don’t assist his actions,” Arvind mentioned. “No matter he has mentioned is in his particular person capability, and the social gathering has nothing to do with it.”
(Edited by Asavari Singh)
Additionally Learn: First energy, then ache: ‘Operation Lotus’ is boomeranging on BJP, and never simply in Karnataka