Karnataka success prompts BJP to scout for aggressive face to lead Telangana unit

Emboldened by the benefits gained in the Karnataka by-elections, the BJP is scouting for an ‘aggressive’ leader to lead its unit in Telangana and expand the party’s footprint in the state as part of its ‘Look South’ mission.

The party’s national general secretary P Muralidhar Rao, who was successful as Karnataka in-charge, is among the frontrunners to head the Telangana unit. Several other contenders are also in the race.

However, the party is yet to take a decision on replacing the incumbent Dr K Lakshman whose term is to end later this month.

The saffron party considers Telangana a low-hanging fruit in the south and has vowed to capture power in the state in the 2023 assembly elections. It has already stepped up attack on the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on the twin planks of promoting family rule and reducing corruption.

Also read: Post big Lok Sabha gains in Telangana, BJP looks for aggressive state chief

The surprise gains made in the April Lok Sabha elections has boosted the confidence of the BJP leadership that the party has the potential to emerge as an alternative to the TRS, a family-driven regional party which has virtually acquired an air of invincibility.

The BJP had won four out of the total 17 seats—Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Secunderabad. Of particular significance was the defeat of the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha in Nizamabad at the hands of BJP candidate D Aravind. This has prompted the BJP to make Telangana its priority state for the next elections and draw up plans to expand the social base in a state that was largely lukewarm to the saffron party.

Low-profile incumbent

The present incumbent Dr K Lakshman, a doctorate in Geology who rose from the ranks, is a low-profile and soft-spoken leader whose appeal is largely confined to the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

“We are looking for an aggressive leader who can galvanize the cadre across the state to take on the TRS and match KCR’s appeal,” the sources in the state BJP said.

The party is aware that it needs young leadership with fresh ideas and an overhaul of the organisation to challenge a well-entrenched TRS.

Also read: Bypoll revives infighting in Telangana Congress

In the December 2018 assembly elections, the party won just one seat — Ghosha Mahal in the city — and lost deposits in 103 out of 119 constituencies. The pathetic performance was blamed on the inept state leadership which lacked aggression and effective campaign strategy. The party’s membership drive had failed to elicit the desired response.

However, the party made significant gains in the LS polls held four months later, garnering 19.4% vote share compared to the 7% it got in the assembly elections. This was largely attributed to the ‘Modi factor’.

Dr Lakshman (63), a former MLA from the city, was appointed the party president in 2016 and his term is to end later this month. He has thrown his hat in the ring for a second term and has the backing of his predecessor G Kishan Reddy who is now the Union Minister of State for Home.

Hot race

Among the contenders for the post are the newly elected MPs D Arvind (Nizamabad) and B Sanjay Kumar (Karimnagar). Both are young and have no organisational experience. Senior aspirants D K Aruna and A P Jithender Reddy carry the tag of an outsider because they had defected from the Congress and TRS respectively. The RSS is believed to be strongly opposed to elevating the outsiders or recent defectors to the top post.

The party president Amit Shah is keen on change of guard in the state but has made it clear that there would be no imposition from Delhi. He had asked the state leaders to suggest the names.

The names of MLCs Chintala Ramchandra Reddy and N Ramchandra Rao are also doing the rounds as aspiring candidates. The stakes are high because whoever takes over the reins will lead the party in the 2013 assembly elections. The upcoming municipal elections will be an acid test for the saffron party to prove its popularity.

Also read: Why BJP may play ‘illegal migrant’ card in Telangana next to counter KCR govt

Leads the pack

Muralidhar Rao, who is now the national general secretary, leads the pack because of his proximity with the central leadership and his proven organisational skills. He belongs to ‘Velama’ caste, considered a strong support base of the TRS.  The calculation among a section of BJP leaders is that Rao being at the helm could help the party cut into TRS’ traditional vote base.

However, Rao was never active in state politics. Though he hails from Telangana’s Karimnagar district, he moved to the North after a stint in student politics as general secretary of the Osmania University Students’ Union in Hyderabad. He was the organising secretary of Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) before being co-opted by the BJP and made its national secretary in 2010 and later as national general secretary in 2013.

Aggressive poaching

As part of its ‘Mission Telangana’, the BJP has started luring leaders from various parties into its fold.

Already, the prominent Dalit face of the TRS and a former MP from Peddapally, G Vivek has joined the saffron party. Vivek, a leading industrialist and a media baron, is the son of former Congress leader and ex-Union minister G Venkataswamy. He has been moving back and forth between Congress and TRS since 2013. Following denial of the TRS ticket in the last elections, he has been looking for greener pastures.

Another Dalit leader from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and former minister M Narasimulu is also set to switch over to the BJP.