It is high time BJP realised alliance with TDP always successful

TDP cadre is ideologically close to BJP but now in displeasure  

Patibandla Srinivas 

([email protected])

Amaravati: It is high time the BJP leadership realised the importance of maintaining good relations with the TDP which is always beneficial to the BJP especially to state party leaders along with the Centre’s coalition government.

It’s an open secret that if there is no alliance with the TDP it is impossible to get BJP leaders elected from any con stituency in Andhra Pradesh. The strong TDP cadre which is ideologically close to BJP is now in a displeasure mood. Though the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP tied an election alliance still there is some confusion based on the ongoing political developments.

Indeed, the leaders may not openly debate the issues but the lower-level cadre is discussing the situation. The entire TDP cadre expected some positive and specific statements for the state development during the three ally parties meeting held at Boppudi.

Later, the leaders of three parties made allegations against several officers specifically but no action has been taken against them so far. Similarly, the denial of a seat to Narasapuram sitting MP Raghu Ramakrishnam Raju has also totally confused the TDP party cadre.

Interestingly, the BJP leaders are also making allegations in election-related issues. At present the BJP is contesting for six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats. The BJP needs TDP cadre support to win the elections. Already the TDP cadre is not happy after state bifurcation developments. An interesting fact is ideologically the TDP cadre is very close to the BJP but ongoing development for the last five years is creating more distance. If it continues there will be a problem that the TDP cadre may search for alternative options in future.   

Contrary to the facts and ground realities, some BJP state leaders sarcastic comments in the past against the TDP’s strength created a gap between the two parties though ideologically there is a close connection. The BJP benefitted from an alliance with TDP while the regional party has also enjoyed power in the center. But the TDP has strong ground and it is always useful to BJP in the election arena.

As per the records, the BJP won 12 Assembly seats in 1999 general elections in alliance with Telugu Desam in the combined state by contesting in 24 Assembly segments. The BJP has won 7 Lok Sabha highest ever record of BJP in the Telugu states. The major part four seats won in Telangana and three seats in Andhra region in that election.

In 2004 elections, the BJP won only 2 Assembly seats one each in AP and Telangana regions by contesting in 27 seats without Telugu Desam alliance. It could not win at least one single Lok Sabha seat though the both the Left parties CPI and CPM won each one in the elections.

The BJP contested in 271 Assembly segments in a combined state without any alliance with TDP in 2009 elections but it had won only 2 Assembly seats and failed to win at least one Lok Sabha seat.

Again, the BJP won four Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats with TDP alliance in the 2014 elections.  Later the BJP at least could not win one Assembly seat in 2019 general elections contesting individually without TDP support.  

The election results showed that the BJP could not give at least competition to opponents when it contested solely without TDP alliance. The BJP contested in 173 constituencies in the elections without support of TDP in 2019 elections and it had got only .84 per cent vote share which is less than one per cent. It is the ground reality of vote strength of BJP at the grassroots level.   

But contrary to the facts, some BJP leaders criticised the ally government and TDP when it was in power 2014 to 2019. The BJP leaders of the state achieved several important positions like the Union Minister, the Vice-President, the Governors and the State Ministers. Though the BJP Central leadership has given several important positions for local leaders, the state unit could not gain the support of Telugu people in both Telugu States Andhra and Telangana.    

Moreover, the interesting fact is that the BJP could not show any impressive performance even by taking support from Jana Sena also. The alliance contested in Andhra Pradesh in the bye-elections and recent Telangana general assembly elections. But both the parties showed poor performance.