The decision of Andhra Pradesh BJP president Somu Veerraju to suspend yet another leader Lanka Dinakar from the party has clearly established that there is no place for any moles of the TDP in the BJP.
Apparently, Lanka Dinakar, who had been the spokesman of the TDP for a long time, has taken a stand against YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy writing a letter to Chief Justice of India making certain allegations against Supreme Court judge N V Ramana and a few other high court judges.
It has naturally angered the BJP, which has preferred to remain silent because of its sensitivity. In fact, even YSRC leaders themselves have been asked to remain silent.
Dinakar was one among many leaders who shifted loyalties to the BJP in the initial days of the TDP losing power to YSR Congress party in 2019 assembly elections.
While Rajya Sabha members Sujana Chowdary, C M Ramesh and T G Venkatesh were the first ones to jump the fence into the saffron party within a month of Chandrababu Naidu losing power, others like C Adinarayana Reddy, Sadhineni Yamini and Lanka Dinakar were among those who had defected to the saffron party later.
Some of these leaders like Sujana Chowdary are said to be still working for the interests of the TDP chief, but the BJP leadership has kept them aside without giving them much importance, though it has not taken any action against them.
But the BJP state unit has decided not to spare such pro-TDP moles in the party. The suspension of Lanka Dinakar, who has been supporting the TDP stand on various issues while participating in television debates and press conferences, is a clear indication to this.
In fact, the axing of pro-TDP leaders from the BJP began soon after Somu Veerraju took over as the state BJP chief.
Unlike his predecessor Kanna Lakshminarayana, who openly fought against the Jagan government in support of Amaravati farmers and other issues, Veerraju is not sparing his party leaders who are taking any stand that benefits the TDP.
Similar action was taken against former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams member O V Ramana and another senior leader Velagapudi Gopalakrishna.
“More than the reasons for speaking against the party line, the BJP leadership has sought to sack all those who directly or indirectly toe the line of the TDP,” a party source said.
