BJP confident of emerging as alternative to TRS

BJP State president K Laxman is confident of meeting the target of enrolling 36 lakh members into the party. He also optimistic of his party that his party will emerge an alternative to the ruling TRS party. Here are the excerpts:

How is your party membership drive going?

The State-level teams have visited all the districts and the way people are responding to the membership drive is good.

The membership drive launched on July 6 will go on till August 11. Those enrolled until that date will be the active members of the party.

They will be eligible for holding any post from mandal to the State-level. General membership enrolment will continue till December.

What is the significant change that you see during the membership drive?

People from all walks of life are looking for some party which can stand up to the ruling party and fight against its highhanded thinking as to who would stand up to the TRS party and its highhanded approach to governance.

For them, BJP is seen as the only alternative to the pink party. For example, two tribal hamlets who were earlier supporting CPI for 30 years had voted for TRS. However, the MLA switched his loyalty and joined the TRS.

However, the people did not follow him. This had resulted in the supporters of the TRS attacking the villagers, including women of the tribal hamlet.

But, not one had come to their rescue. It was against this backdrop that they had approached me seeking help. The issue was taken up with appropriate authorities, including with the District SP etc.

It was not an isolated incident. Similar incidents have been taking places across the State in which the TRS leaders and their supporters are harassing people.

Your party is raising objections over the division of wards in the urban local bodies. What are your objections to it?

The division of wards is being carried out in an improper manner and unscientific way. It is not new for the TRS and it had done the same on earlier occasions in the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections for political reasons.

Even cessions data was not taken into consideration. We will fight it politically as well as legally. Besides, to people and continue to fight the TRS misuse of power and misrule in the State.

Your party claims to have a large support base from the youth and urban population. Even the ruling TRS is focusing on the same segments.

Will you be in a position to win over people on your side?

The TRS knows it well that it has lost the connectivity with the educated, students, youth in the urban areas across the State.

It has also delivered nothing to these segments except making false promises time and gain.

Now the ruling party is sacred of the educated, students and youth and they might rock its fortunes in the ensuing

Why there is so much bitterness between the BJP and TRS these days?

Post Lok Sabha elections the TRS has developed cold feet. Because, the winning of four seats in Telangana and BJP expansion across the country indicates its strength to reach out people cutting across the caste, gender, religion, regions etc.

The TRS leadership knows it would not be in a position to stop the BJP's footprint in Telangana.

What are you expecting from people ahead of the municipal elections?

We appeal to the people to come forward and strengthen the BJP to end the corrupt and family rule in Telangana State. Particularly, youth and students know that unemployment is the burning problem in the State.

Education became a corporate business. Shortcomings in conducting EAMCET and intermediate results fiasco showed the gross negligence on the part of the government.

We ask the youth and students to be alert about the political manoeuvres of the TRs like unscientific division of wards to win in the elections. We are appealing to them to join hands to end the dynastic rule.