The talk in political circles that former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is tilting towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gained much ground during the last two days and none from Mr. Kiran’s side denied the reports.
Reports on a tentative schedule for Mr. Kiran’s likely entry into BJP early next month are also doing rounds.
After the rout of the Jai Samaikhyandra Party floated by him in the last Assembly elections, the former Chief Minister went into political hibernation, while many of his supporters in the district have left him in course of time. At present, the only supporter accompanying Mr. Kiran Reddy is his younger brother Kishore Kumar Reddy.
Despite serving the united State as the Chief Minister for over three years, Mr Kiran could not create any support base in his own home district. After he chose not to contest the Assembly elections and fielded his brother from Piler, Mr. Kiran lost much of the support in the district.
But, Mr. Kiran's entry into BJP may cause much headache to TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu in the coming years. Hailing from the dominant Reddy community in Chittoor district in particular and Rayalaseema region in general he might enthuse to some extent community leaders who are currently divided among the TDP, the YSR Congress and the Congress. The BJP leaders in Chittoor district observe that Mr. Kiran's entry might not bring any direct strength to the party, but it would definitely pave a platform for the BJP to widen its base.
Meanwhile, some of the close followers of Mr. Kiran, who have now distanced from him, observe that the people of residual AP know that he was a strong votary of the united State. He had also threatened the AICC leadership that he would quit politics if the T-bill was tabled in Lok Sabha. “If Mr. Kiran joins the BJP now, it will only create an example of lack of morality in politics. People know very well that BJP remained the supporter of bifurcation right from the beginning. There will be no euphoria,” a leader who was close to Mr. Kiran said.
