The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is closely watching developments in Andhra Pradesh where former chief minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief Jagan Mohan Reddy’s statement expressing support for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and seeking electoral reforms is being perceived as an indication that the once “friendly party” could be moving towards the opposition bloc.
Reddy on Sunday said the appointment of election commissioners should be independent of the government in power. He alleged that the delimitation of divisions and wards had been carried out to favour the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition. The BJP was counting on it to support the delimitation bill as well as the Constitutional Amendment bill that requires two-third majority, even though Reddy had asked the Union government to ensure that the southern states do not lose out on seats owing to better population control measures. The party had also demanded that the government’s assurance of proportionate increase in seats for southern states should be inserted in the text of the delimitation bill. And in Telangana too, the BJP, will have to contest against a formidable opponent.
He also expressed regret over his party’s support for the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which governs the appointment of Election Commissioners in 2023. The former CM also expressed concerns over the SIR and said 4.6 million fake voters had been identified across the country, and the government had decided to proceed with the elections using an unrevised electoral roll. The YSRCP has 8 MPs—four each in Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Even as it was not part of the ruling NDA, it was counted as a friendly party that supported the government on several key issues including the Citizenship Amendment Act; the abrogation of Article 370 and the farm laws.
On the political impact of the realignment, BJP leaders said the coming together of Reddy and the Congress in Andhra Pradesh will pose a challenge to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key ally of the BJP-led NDA.
“Of late, there have been indications that the YSRCP will join the INDIA bloc. If that were to happen then the opposition will gain support from the larger coalition of Christian and Muslim voters in AP.
The percentage of Christian voters is high in AP and they support Jagan, they also have a significant presence in Telangana, which the Congress will benefit from,” said a BJP leader.
Explaining the shift in votes, he said that if the YSRCP aligns with the Congress, the Reddys in Telangana too will shift alliance to CM Revanth Reddy. “There is a significant settler vote (voters who shifted from Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema but are registered voters in Telangana) that is crucial in 20-30 constituencies in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) region, in places such as Gachibowli, Khammam, and Suryapet, which the Congress will gain if the realignment occurs,” the leader said.
