Rajahmundry: The state BJP is maintaining a low profile these days with its senior leaders and elected public representatives not being involved in any major activities except for their routine work.
One of the main reasons for this is lack of strong leadership in the state. The party’s national leadership is neither giving the serving state president adequate power to lead the party nor is it appointing a new president.
Though party leaders are making tall claims about getting a special financial package for the state, BJP’s image has suffered a major dent as the people were expecting the special status tag for AP.
As the state BJP also does not have a good relationship with its political ally, the TD, the party’s leaders are confining their activities only to the party and the cadre, and there is no joint efforts with the TD on any issue. Leaders and elected representatives of the two parties in fact do not get along well in several districts in the state.
Except for the ongoing training programme for the party cadre on BJP’s ideology, there is not much activity in the state. State BJP leaders meanwhile say that the recent surgical strikes by the Army on terrorist bases in PoK have not only boosted its sagging image in the country but in the world.
They say that with no elections round the corner, they are confining their activities to bringing about awareness among the party cadre and supporters about several welfare schemes and developmental works being carried out by the Centre. They say that they will become more active towards the beginning of 2018 as the party wants to fight in the general elections with or without a coalition partner.
They say that if the people could forget the painful bifurcation of the state and supported political parties except for the Congress, they will do so again in the next elections and support the BJP even if it fails to fulfil the SCS demand.
Meanwhile the stalemate on appointing a party president in the state continues with some leaders saying that the existing party president and MP, Kambhampati Haribabu, will be allowed to continue, while others say that the party will appoint a new leader once the UP Assembly elections are over.
BJP Rajahmundry Urban MLA Akula Satyanarayana said, “We do agree that the party is experiencing a lull, but it is only a temporary phenomenon. Once the election fever catches up, the party leaders and cadre will become more active. Meanwhile, we are strengthening our base in the state.”
