Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Telangana on October 2 raises questions about the relationship between the BJP and BRS. While Telangana is heading towards a triangular contest, the BJP has become a weak third party, leading to speculation that the saffron party is strategically helping BRS come back to power. After Modi’s visit, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president J P Nadda, and other senior leaders will also be coming to Hyderabad.
The recent departure of Venkat Reddy, a close aide of state BJP president G Kishan Reddy who joined BRS, has highlighted internal issues within the party. Party leaders believe that the biggest setback for the state BJP came after Bandi Sanjay was moved, and the current leadership relies heavily on “intellectuals” within the party who are disconnected from grassroots activities. This has caused further trouble.
In this context, Modi’s visit to Mahbubnagar on Gandhi Jayanti holds significance. The national leadership believes that the state unit has not met the party high command’s expectations and has not engaged in strong ground-level activities.
After the Karnataka elections, the BJP lost ground while the Congress emerged as the second-largest party. Even BRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has stated that Congress is his main rival, not the BJP. Despite BJP leaders looking towards Congress, the state BJP has failed to attract leaders from other parties.
State leaders hope that Modi’s visit will provide them with new direction and a clear roadmap to improve the functioning of the party.
