The outcome of the latest elections to the Andhra Pradesh state legislative council might not have much impact on the ruling YSR Congress party though many people say it is a wakeup call for the party leadership and it gives a scope to take corrective measures.
However, for the Bharatiya Janata Party, the MLC election results have definitely sounded trouble. The party has lost its seat in north-coastal Andhra and its candidate P V N Madhav lost his deposit.
Generally, the BJP is believed to be a favourite among the urban electorate, especially younger generation. But in the MLC elections, the graduates have rejected it outright and preferred to vote for the TDP.
The results have created a stir within the BJP and the party leaders are gradually questioning the party’s strategies. Leaders like former MLA P Vishnu Kumar Raju have questioned the BJP state leadership’s failure in not taking the elections seriously.
Raju went to the extent of saying that the general impression among the people is that the BJP leadership is hand in glove with the YSRC and hence, have rejected the party.
“The elections have proved that there is a strong anti-incumbency against the ruling YSR, but the people didn’t believe the BJP because they feel the party is going too soft towards the YSRCP,” Raju said.
There is a talk in the Andhra BJP that more and more leaders would come out openly against the party leadership and in the days to come, several leaders might desert the party and join either the TDP or Jana Sena.
Apart from Raju, others like Kamineni Srinivas and Adinarayana Reddy might quit the BJP and look towards the TDP. Some others are also contemplating joining the Jana Sena.
Sources said there is also a demand within the party that the leadership should take steps to restore friendship with Jana Sena Party and if necessary, it should welcome the TDP into the alliance.
“The party should also take an aggressive stand against the YSR Congress party, instead of adopting a soft approach towards the party. Unless it realises the fact that there is an anti-incumbency against the Jagan government, it cannot expect to emerge as a strong opposition,” an analyst said.
