The Bharatiya Janata Party national leadership on Friday appointed presidents for five State units, including Telangana, but refrained from making any change in the leadership of the Andhra Pradesh BJP unit.
In Telangana, sitting BJP president G Kishan Reddy has been replaced by Dr K Laxman, a non-controversial and educated leader.
On the other hand, K Haribabu continues to remain the BJP president for Andhra Pradesh, though there were speculations that he would be replaced by Somu Veerraju, a more aggressive leader.
According to political analysts, replacing Kishan Reddy with Laxman is said to be part of the party’s strategy to get closer to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Telangana.
While Kishan Reddy is more attacking for the TRS, Laxman has a soft corner towards Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Recently, he was all praise for KCR for giving an excellent power point presentation in the Assembly on irrigation projects and also for raising the salaries of the MLAs and MLCs.
In Andhra Pradesh, however, sources said Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu had come in the way of the party leaders going all out against the Telugu Desam Party. So, he ensured that his follower Hari Babu continued as the BJP president, so that the relationship with the TDP does not strain.
If Somu Veerraju is appointed, it would have led to snapping of ties between both the parties, sources said.
