The BJP is in a dilemma over choosing its allies ahead of the coming general elections. In Andhra Pradesh, the choice is between the Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress Party.
In view of the sensitive matters involved, the saffron party has decided to maintain equidistance from the TDP and YSRCP, for now.
This is despite the party’s PM candidate Narendra Modi showing a distinct preference for the TDP Chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.
However, the party president Rajnath Singh thinks it would be better to maintain distance from both the regional parties at the present juncture in order to avoid any perception of dilution on the Telengana demand. It is in the interest of the party to keep an independent stance till things became clearer on the political front vis-à-vis Telengana.
A section of the state BJP leaders are dead against forging alliance TDP as they feel that Chandrababu Naidu is an unreliable and slippery customer when it comes to political alliances.
It may be noted that some leaders of AP had vociferously expressed their opposition when Naidu met Modi, Rajnath and Arun Jailtey in the national capital.
Sensing that the meeting might give wrong signals about the BJP’s unflinching support to Telangana, the party decided not to send anyone to support Naidu during his six-day fast in Andhra Pradesh Bhavan.
The job was left to Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal. However, Modi later called up Naidu in hospital to enquire about his health.
Meanwhile, the BJP has also been receiving feelers from YSRCP. After Party President Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy praised the administrative and leadership skills of Modi, his mother Y S Vijayalakshmi called on Rajnath during her Delhi tour last week. She requested the BJP chief to reiterate their stand on the constitution of a Second States Reorganisation Commission as demanded by LK Advani earlier.
