With the general elections just a few months away, the political landscape is witnessing unprecedented changes in Andhra Pradesh. The BJP is planning to make some crucial changes in the Cabinet and even in the party units in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Reportedly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in consultation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, readied the blueprint in this regard.
It is learnt that the BJP leadership has come to a final decision with regard to a few changes. There is information that BJP AP unit president Somu Veerraju would be replaced and YCP rebel MP K. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju would join the saffron party.
Similarly, ground has been readied for revamping the party cadre at the Centre too. On July 3, Prime Minister Modi would hold a meeting with the Union ministers and the ministers of state. At this meeting, Modi would speak about the changes the partyleadership would make to ensure victory in the upcoming elections in five states this year and the general elections due next year.
After the meeting, there is chance for a majority of the ministers to resign from their posts and senior ministers to replace them.
It is learnt that the BJP leadership could not arrive at a decision regarding replacing BJP Telagnana president Bandi Sanjay. A final call on this is likely in the next 2-3 days. There is buzz that Union MoS Kishan Reddy is likely to replace Bandi Sanjay. Party senior leader Laxman is also in the race for the post.
Soruces said that the BJP is more focused on Telangana than Andhra Pradesh. There is information that none from AP would get a chance for inclusion into the Union Cabinet. There is talk that Daggubati Purandeswari and party state secretary Satyakumar Yadav, a BC leader, are in the race for the BJP AP unit president post. However, the party leadership is learnt to be more inclined towards replacing Somu with Purandeswari.
RRR Rivalry With YCP
Since differing with the ruling YCP, Narasapuram MP Raghu Ramakrishna Raju had been confined to Delhi. Ahead of the elections, there is talk that he is planning to join the BJP. As he was moving closely with the Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, speculations were rife that he would join either of the parties.
Meanwhile, the BJP leaders in AP hinted that if Satyakumar would be given the cudgels of the AP BJP unit, it can be understood that the party would have an alliance with the TDP.
However, there is information that the BJP leadership would announce about changes in the party AP unit only after taking a final decision weighing all the options.