‘TDP and YSRCP want to have an alliance with the Bjp to escape scrutiny from Central agencies’.
Delhi
As the Assembly and general elections are scheduled to happen next year in Andhra Pradesh, both parties, the TDP and YSRCP are wanting to have an alliance with the BJP to escape any “tight scrutiny” from central agencies.
A party insider said, “Both the parties are not looking for any trouble from central agencies. Thus, alliance with the ruling national party is the easiest way to avoid any hurdle during elections and ensure that all the election processes go smoothly for the party that is in alliance with the saffron camp.”
However, TDP leaders say that the party does not need any alliance with the BJP as the saffron camp does not have any considerable electoral standing in the state and stitching up an alliance will make no difference in elections.
“Rather, it will benefit the BJP and also give them a platform at the cost of TDP if the party supports the saffron party (by campaigning for its candidates) in seats where it would be contesting.”
Though there is a downside for TDP, yet the party wants to stitch up an alliance with the party that is ruling at the Centre (BJP).
A political analyst in the state said, “It is true that both the parties (TDP and YSRCP) have tried to lure BJP so that they will get relief from central agencies and also there will be less scrutiny for the party that is with the BJP. But the national ruling party has kept both the parties hanging. There is no clear indication with which party it would want to ally.”
Experts believe the BJP will try to have an alliance in a way where it would be able to win seats and create a platform for the next elections. For that, it has to get along with a party which will agree to its demand of the number of seats that the BJP wants and also help it to win seats. Then, it would be about how much vote transfer it (BJP) would be able to have.
Alongside, TDP is also in talks with Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena party, where both the parties believe coming together will help the parties stand stronger against the ruling YSRCP. However, the parties are facing a deadlock over the seat-sharing formula.
An analyst in the state said, “Pawan Kalyan could be the future of Andhra Pradesh. But the young leaders are too impatient these days. If he goes it alone, he will damage the TDP and the incumbent Jagan Mohan Reddy will again come to power easily. To survive the politics of the day in Andhra, both parties will have to come together firmly and work for each other to make the alliance water tight.”
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy recently said for the first time since he assumed the office, has openly indicated that his party may not have the support of the BJP in the general and Assembly elections in 2024.
Moreover, senior minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said, “Chandrababu is desperate as he knows the TDP stands no chance against the YSRCP and its Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is very popular in the state. The YSRCP government has implemented a variety of welfare schemes that no other government has done. No alliance, whether with the BJP or the Jana Sena Party (JSP), can stop YSRCP from sweeping the next election.”