The victory of Bharatiya Janata Party in by-elections to Dubbak assembly seat in Telangana has no doubt enhanced the confidence levels of the party, but the party leaders seem to be a little bit overenthusiastic in claiming that they would repeat the performance everywhere in the Telugu states.
This was evident from the way BJP in-charge of Andhra affairs Sunil Deodhar has been claiming that the party would gradually conquer Andhra Pradesh, too, in the coming days.
Deodhar was particularly talking about the ensuing by-elections to Tirupati parliamentary seat in Chittoor district, which has fallen vacant due to sudden demise of sitting YSR Congress party MP Balli Durgaprasad. The by-elections are expected to be held in December or January.
The BJP leader said the BJP would repeat the Dubbak show in Tirupati as well and later, expand its footprints to other parts of Andhra Pradesh.
He is of the view that the people in the urban areas like Tirupati have a huge sympathy for the saffron party and that Narendra Modi wave would definitely sweep its rivals in Tirupati as well.
Apparently, Deodhar is under the impression that Hindutva sentiment would work strongly in favour of the BJP in Tirupati.
The BJP has been raising the issues concerning Lord Venkateshwara temple on Tirumala, especially like non-Hindu activities in Tirumala, usage of TTD funds for government schemes, sale of TTD assets etc and the party leaders think it would trigger Hindu sentiment so that the BJP can cash in on the same in Tirupati by-elections.
Deodhar has already been making critical remarks against the Jagan Mohan Reddy government to establish the party in Tirupati. However, it is not clear whether BJP itself would contest the seat or give it to Jana Sena as part of agreement.
Secondly, political scenario in Tirupati is entirely different from that is in Dubbak. While there is a considerable anti-establishment atmosphere in Dubbak against the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, there is no such anti-establishment wave in Tirupati.
While the YSRC still has a lot of hold over Tirupati, there is also a sympathy element due to untimely death of Durgaprasad.
Moreover, the Telugu Desam Party, too, has a significant vote bank in Tirupati and it might field former Union minister Panabaka Lakshmi. She can only split the anti-YSRC votes, if any, and it would only help the YSRC.
Yet, if the BJP is able to win Tirupati LS seat, it is going to emerge as a major force in Andhra, too!
