Prof K Nageshwar: The Curious Question Of BJP-YCP Relationship

Notwithstanding its repeated claims of equidistance from both ruling and opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh, speculation is rife in political circles that there is a clandestine understanding between BJP and the YSR Congress.

The saffron party’s diabolical stand on Amaravati further strengthens such a speculation. Now, none other than Ram Madhav said that the BJP is a constructive opposition and critical friend of YSR Congress. Such a description clearly reveals the peculiar relationship between BJP and YSR Congress.

Earlier Vijayasai Reddy, the YSR Congress parliamentary party leader in fact claimed that YS Jagan is seeking consent of Modi and Amith Shah before contemplating any policy. Though the state BJP leaders rejected such claims, the All India BJP leaders have not reacted to it. Instead, Vijayasai Reddy was inducted into Business Advisory Committee of Rajya Sabha.

The YSR Congress refusing to initiate any action on Raghurama Krishna Raju, who is known to be close to BJP, gives further credence to the speculation of a possible deal. It is rather perplexing that the party is not acting even when Raghurama Krishna Raju is causing unprecedented political embarrassment by his unrelenting campaign against his own party.

The YSR Congress party despite not being part of NDA has been firmly supporting every policy of Modi government even when they harm the interests of states. While NDA allies like Akali Dal and Janata Dal(U) have expressed reservations over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA), the YSR Congress supported it in parliament despite having substantial minority vote bank.

However, the state BJP leaders have been criticizing YS Jagan government. But, political observers consider this as an attempt to eat into the opposition political space, rather than politically damaging the ruling party. Strike but not wound approach is discernible in BJP’s attitude towards YS Jagan.

Somu Veerraju replacing Kanna Lakshminarayana as state party chief is a widely interpreted as saffron party providing comfort for YS Jagan. Unlike his predecessor Kanna Lakshminarayana, Somu Veerraju is believed to be soft towards YS Jagan. He was vehemently critical of Chandrababu Naidu even when TDP was part of BJP led NDA.

Though clarified that constitutionally it has no role to play in the choice of state capital, the political maneuverability of Modi-Shah regime can certainly save Amaravati from YS Jagan’s plans.

But, the BJP choosing not to walk an extra mile reveals the party’s special relationship with YSR Congress. It doesn’t wish to antagonize a strong regional party whose support in Rajya Sabha is much needed. The BJP has no immediate political gains from being hostile to YS Jagan. This defines the undeclared friendship between the two parties. This is what Ram Madhav means when he says constructive opposition and critical friend.

— By Prof K Nageshwar

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