Defections hit BJP in both Telugu states

Vijayawada: Despite attempts to strengthen its base in southern India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing a tough time in both the Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 

Several BJP leaders, particularly in AP, have been resigning from the party, particularly since the BJP's stand on Special Category Status (SCS) for the state resulted in its losing the support of the ruling Telugu Desam (TD).

During and after the 2014 general elections, several Congress leaders had joined the BJP in the face of public anger, since the popular perception was that the Congress was responsible for the bifurcation of the state. Understandably, the Congress was wiped out in AP, not winning a single Assembly or Lok Sabha seat.

Before the elections, the BJP had promised to grant SCS to AP, but the party's subsequent U-turn on the issue has resulted in an erosion of popular support, and it now finds itself in a similar to that of the Congress party during the 2014 elections, causing the current wave of resignations. Interestingly, all those who wish to resign, or have already resigned, originally belonged to parties other than the BJP.

Vijayawada West MLA Vellampalli Srinivas was elected in 2009 from Praja Rajyam party, which later merged with Congress. After the bifurcation, he joined the BJP, from which he recently resigned to join YSR Congress. In Kurnool, former Congress MLA Katasani Rambhoopal Reddy joined the BJP, and he, too, has resigned in order to join YSRC on April 29.

Former Congress minister Kanna Laxminarayana joined the BJP after 2014. Three days ago, he decided to resign from the BJP and now wants to join YSRC, though the BJP national leadership has been exerting pressure on him to stay with the party. Currently in hospital owing to ill health, Kanna has not made clear his future course of action.