Bharatiya Janata Party will go it alone in the next elections in Andhra Pradesh to be held in 2024, if such a situation arises, but will not join hands with the Telugu Desam Party under any circumstances.
An indication to this effect was given by BJP state president Somu Veerraju at a party meeting on Sunday.
He said the BJP already has an alliance with the Jana Sena Party headed by power star Pawan Kalyan and so, there was no need to join hands with any other party at present.
“In the event of any compelling situation that arises in future, the BJP will contest the next assembly elections on its own,” Veerraju said, indicating that it was ready to snap ties with Pawan Kalyan, if the latter joins hands with the TDP in the coming days.
Already, the BJP and Jana Sena Party have been adopting independent strategies with regard to fighting against the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in the state. Both the parties, despite having an alliance, have not taken up any joint agitations on any issue.
Even during the recent protests against the power tariff hike, the BJP and Jana Sena Party cadres went independently. They have not held any joint strategic or coordination meetings in the recent past.
Under these circumstances, the recent statement of Pawan Kalyan that he would not allow the split of anti-incumbency vote and that there is a need for anti-YSRC forces to come together did not evoke any response from the BJP.
There was also no immediate reaction from the BJP on Pawan’s comment that he was awaiting a road map from his alliance partner.
Now that Veerraju made it clear that the BJP was prepared to go alone if necessary, it has made the road map clear for Pawan Kalyan.
What would Pawan Kalyan do now? Will he give up the friendship with the BJP and join hands with the TDP? Will he wait for some time and try to persuade the BJP leadership for an alliance with the TDP?
The Jana Sena Party is likely to discuss Veerraju’s statements at its crucial meeting on Tuesday.
Though Pawan Kalyan might not take any decision on breaking the alliance with the BJP or making it with the TDP immediately, but the party cadre might get some clarity in this regard.
If the BJP goes it alone in the next elections, it will only help the YSR Congress party in the next elections as it can upset the calculations of the TDP and Jana Sena in many constituencies, say analysts.
