Divergent opinions were aired by the State BJP leaders on the question of having an electoral tie-up with TDP at their meeting with BJP national president Rajnath Singh on Wednesday.
Mr. Singh arrived here on Tuesday to attend a meeting with top brass of RSS on Thursday, the concluding day of the three-day all-India executive of the body. It was a kind of homecoming for former Union Minister Krishnam Raju, who rejoined the party in the presence of Mr. Singh. Some leaders reportedly opposed any proposal for a tie-up with TDP while senior leader N. Indrasena Reddy favoured an alliance. The possibility of an alliance with TRS also figured.
Later briefing reporters, State BJP president G. Kishan Reddy said Mr. Singh had informed that no decision was taken on alliance at any level. He wanted the State leadership to initiate the process of identifying candidates after Sankranti and the issue would be discussed with State committee this month-end. The BJP national president gave a call for the party machinery to gear up for the coming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. He wanted the organisation to be strengthened from grass-roots and said the booth level committees should be constituted.
On Telangana, he said the party was committed to bifurcation of A.P. At the same time, the concerns of Seemandhra people would have to be addressed and the same would be raised during the debate on AP Reorganisation Bill in Parliament. Mr. Krishnam Raju said that he would work enthusiastically for the party and praised the leadership of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. He said the youth were looking towards Mr. Modi for the country to have better days in the future.
Samaikyandhra officers’ plea
Office-bearers of the Samaikyandhra Gazetted Officers’ Forum on Wednesday appealed to Mr. Rajnath Singh to appreciate the genuine concerns of a majority of people in Andhra Pradesh and do justice. In a memorandum, forum president A.V. Patel said the bifurcation of States would lead to disunity among people and disintegration of the country.
