BJP, JS will jointly contest 2024 polls, says Purandeswari

Vijayawada: BJP state president Daggubati Purandeswari said the BJP, in alliance with Jana Sena, will contest the forthcoming general elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to the media before addressing a meeting of BJP leaders of Godavari zone in Rajamahendravaram on Wednesday, she, however, said the party’s national leadership will decide on BJP’s alliance with other political parties in AP, in an oblique reference to the Telugu Desam.

Purandeswari maintained that the choice of her constituency too will be decided by the party high command.

Turning her attention to various issues of the state, she slammed the YSRC government for failing to take up construction of houses for poor, even though the Centre has allotted 22 lakh houses to AP. She wondered what happened to the funds that the Narendra Modi-led government had sanctioned for these houses.

Alleging that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government is diverting funds extended to AP by the Centre, the state BJP chief asked why ₹900 crore sanctioned for gram panchayats had failed to reach them. She further pointed out that ₹600 crore had been taken away on the pretext of paying power bills of gram panchayats. She pointed out that her party has given a call for a state-wide stir on August 10 in support of demands of gram sarpanchs and to protest against diversion of funds.

Purandeswari maintained that the central government is committed to execution of the Polavaram project and resolve problems faced by people affected by the project.

Referring to assurances made at the time of AP’s bifurcation, she said the central government is committed to fulfil them. Accordingly, several national health and educational institutions have been sanctioned to AP, in addition to railway lines connecting Bhadrachalam to Kovvur and Kakinada to Pithapuram, she said.