BJP’s Growing Popularity in Warangal Sparks Leadership Battle
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is witnessing a surge in popularity in Warangal, as several leaders are competing for the coveted position of the district president.
Even though the BJP didn’t perform well in the 2023 Assembly elections, there is no shortage of leaders eager to steer the party forward in Warangal. The reorganization of the erstwhile Warangal district into six smaller districts has led to the rise of new leaders, along with an influx of politicians from other parties.
In the 2023 elections, BJP’s Warangal Urban Cooperative Bank Limited chairman, Errabelli Pradeep Rao, contested against Congress candidate Konda Surekha but lost by a margin of around 15,000 votes. Despite the loss, the BJP managed to secure the second position, pushing the ruling BRS MLA Nannapuneni Narender to third place.
The Wardhannapet constituency remains an area of historical significance for the BJP. Leaders like Vannala Sriramulu (1985) and Takkallapalli Rajeshwar Rao (1989) represented the constituency in the past. Meanwhile, Narsampet was once a stronghold for the party under Revuri Prakash Reddy’s leadership. However, his switch to Congress just before the elections left the BJP disorganized. Reddy contested for Congress and won from the Parkal constituency.
Despite recent setbacks, the BJP leadership is optimistic about turning the situation in its favor. They are determined to strengthen the party’s presence in Warangal and are focused on appointing a strong leader to head the district.
Several names have emerged as frontrunners for the district president post, including incumbent Ganta Ravi Kumar, senior leaders Malladi Tirupathi Reddy, Vannala Venkatramana, Siddam Naresh Patel, and Gurumurthy Shiva Kumar. All these leaders have close ties with the BJP’s State leadership and are lobbying hard for the position.
Historically, the BJP has had a steady base in the erstwhile Warangal district since the days of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which later transformed into the BJP in 1980. The party has achieved notable victories in the region, including winning the Parkal Assembly seat thrice, Wardhannapet and Sayampet twice, and Hanamkonda once.
It is worth noting that the Hanamkonda and Sayampet seats were abolished in 2008 during the delimitation process. In 2000, the BJP also secured a major victory when it won the Mayor post in the Warangal Municipal Corporation.
One of BJP’s most significant triumphs in Warangal was the 1984 Lok Sabha election, where Chandupatla Janga Reddy defeated former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in the Hanamkonda constituency. Although this constituency no longer exists, the victory remains a landmark moment in the party’s history in the region.
As Warangal gears up for the next phase of political activity, all eyes are on who will lead the BJP in this key district.
