In Vijayawada, there is a divide among BJP leaders in Andhra Pradesh, with key senior leaders not attending a meeting with the party high command on Tuesday. The meeting was held at the BJP State office and was attended by central leaders Siddharth Nath Singh and Arun Singh along with Lok Sabha election candidates who received tickets.
However, senior State leaders like former BJP State president Somu Veerraju, Rajya Sabha member GVL Narasimha Rao, and other senior leaders were absent from the meeting. They were reportedly upset that despite their loyalty to the party, tickets were given to those who had defected from other parties.
Most Lok Sabha candidates from the BJP have switched from other parties, except for Srinivas Varma. The party high command suggested candidates for specific Assembly seats, but some senior leaders are hesitant to contest from those seats. The BJP may propose to its alliance partner, the TDP, to offer alternate Assembly seats to accommodate these leaders.
While some leaders cited health reasons for missing the meeting, the reasons for others’ absence remain unclear. The BJP is finalizing its Assembly candidates, planning to contest from nine of the ten selected seats. There are discussions about potential candidates for the Rajampet Lok Sabha seat, aiming to influence Kshatriya community votes.
In conclusion, the BJP leadership in Andhra Pradesh is facing challenges due to internal divisions and disagreements over candidate selection for upcoming elections.
