Amit Shah’s 3-day tour likely to usher in changes in party unit

Amaravati: The three-day tour of BJP national president Amit Shah in the state from August 28 is likely to give new road map for party in the state. This will be the first tour of the BJP national president since senior party leader from south India M Venkaiah Naidu has been taken out of active politics by way of being elected as country’s Vice President.

Highlights:

• BJP national chief’s visit will be the first after Venkaiah Naidu’s departure from active politics
• Appointment of new party chief for state will indicate the future course of relations with the TDP as all the top contenders are critics of Naidu

According to party sources, a change is expected in party’s political direction in the state in near future with the absence of Venkaiah. Several important internal issues of the party and election alliance with TDP, besides steps to strengthen the party in the state, will come up in the discussions during Amit Shah’s visit.

The BJP leadership has already as spelled out its goal of improving its tally in next general elections, coming to power at least in two states and getting second position in the remaining states in south India.

Speculation is rife that with the departure of Venkaiah, a towering personality for many years in party affairs so far in the two Telugu states, those who are considered his loyalists will be replaced. Vizag MP Kambhampati Hari Babu, who is the party state president, is expected to be replaced. It may be recalled that appointment of new party chief for the state has been pending with the national party leadership for a long time.

A senior leader of the party said there is a possibility of Hari Babu being elevated byway of being taken into Union Cabinet or some other post as the party leadership cannot just dump a senior leader for the sake of appeasing a rival group.

The names of several leaders like Somu Veerraju, Kanna Laxminarayana, Daggubati Purandeswari are on the list of state president post. Somu Veeraraju and Kanna Laxminarayana both belong to Kapu community and Purandeswari from Kamma community.

All the three are against TDP national president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Unrestrained by the party’s alliance with the TDP, the three leaders are known to launch tirades against the state government.

It is to be seen how BJP can continue its present ties with the TDP by appointing one of the three as state party chief. Earlier, it was reported that the TDP had opposed the proposal to appoint Somu Veerraju. Analysts feel that the choice of new state party chief will give ample indications to the future course of alliance between the two parties.

The BJP national president will state in Vijayawada to confabulate with party leaders and activists on ways to strengthen party in the state by attracting prominent personalities and more sections of people in to the party fold, said a party leader. He further said the issue of TDP not inviting BJP for campaigning in Nandyal byelection would also be taken to the notice of national leadership.

BJP state general secretary Jammula Shyam Kishore told the The Hans India that Amit Shah during his stay in Vijayawada would interact with all the leaders, participate in meetings with party leaders of all morchas, core committee meeting. “Besides, he will participate in two private programmes. The party is yet to receive his official programme,” he said.

By Patibandla Srinivas