Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has said it will be in fitness of things for BJP to take a re-look on ties with Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh to expand the party’s base in the State.
Answering questions at a media conference here on Sunday, Mr. Dattatreya said that the BJP would focus on winning more in 2019 Lok Sabha seats that it lost last time.
Having won only one seat in Telangana and two in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP would naturally look to increase its strength in the two States riding on the back of people rallying strongly behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP had gained in strength in Odisha and so will it in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Hence, the party will do its best to strengthen the position in the two States. The BJP will look to expand its base but not weaken the Opposition at the same time like the Congress did, he added.
The tour of BJP president Amit Shah in Telangana and A.P. from Monday was part of the party’s programme to expand the base. He also said the party’s prospects now were better than in 1998 when it polled 23.5% of votes.
The Union Minister discussed the good response that he received at the G 20 Labour Ministers’ conference in Germany on May 18 and 19. He had bilateral talks with delegations of UK, Argentina, Russia and Saudi Arabia. Germany entered into an agreement with India to train apprentices.
