HYDERABAD: Following the defeat in the Karnataka Assembly election, the BJP is shifting its focus to Telangana to mitigate the impact of the result on its standing in South India. While the party remains committed to preventing Congress from gaining power nationwide, it faces a dual challenge in Telangana—from the ruling BRS and the principal opposition, Congress.
The recent setback in Karnataka has derailed the BJP’s plans to secure power in the upcoming Assembly election in Telangana. Party insiders indicate that the leadership is now intensifying efforts to rally leaders and cadre who were disheartened by the Karnataka results. Prominent leaders such as Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Party National President JP Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are expected to undertake extensive tours and engage in activities in Telangana to prevent Congress from strengthening its position in the state.
Survey planned
Additionally, to assess the impact of the Karnataka election results, the party plans to conduct a survey in Telangana. This survey, which will focus on urban and semi-urban constituencies, aims to determine the extent of Congress’s gains and the BJP’s position in the state. The survey teams are expected to reach Telangana after May 25 and complete their assessment by the end of June. The survey will primarily target Congress strongholds and constituencies where the party has recently gained new members.
Targets set
Looking at the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP high command has set a specific objective of securing 90 seats from South India. Accordingly, the survey will also include an opinion poll in 15 Parliamentary constituencies.
In its bid to expand its support base, the BJP has been actively pursuing leaders from Congress and the ruling BRS. While the State leadership has faced challenges in attracting these leaders, the party’s central leadership plans to attract Congress rebels and individuals dissatisfied with BRS. The party intends to intensify “Operation Aakarsh,” targeting both Congress leaders and subsequently those from BRS who are interested in joining the BJP. The party aims to provide assurance of tickets and financial assistance to potential candidates.
BJP Assembly segment in-charges have been instructed by the high command to focus on strengthening booth committees in the 28 constituencies that come under the four Lok Sabha constituencies that the party won in 2019. Its four MPs—Bandi Sanjay, G Kishan Reddy, Dharmapuri Arvind, and Soyam Bapu Rao—will spearhead these efforts.
In the 2019 General Elections, the BJP secured a 20% vote share in Telangana, while Congress received 30% and BRS received 42%. The party’s back-end units are now working to determine the actual vote share in the event of an early Assembly election or as per the scheduled timeframe through the survey.
Party leaders anticipate a decrease in vote share following the Karnataka results, especially if significant leaders join Congress. Senior BJP leaders have acknowledged the absence of prominent leaders to lead the party to victory in the Assembly elections and its dependence on Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. They admit that the lack of strong leaders within the BJP could pose a challenge in taking on Congress and BRS, who have their own established leaders and community support.
Back to the drawing board
■ The K’taka setback has derailed BJP’s plans for TS
■ BJP sources say that the party is now intensifying efforts to rally disheartened cadre
■ To assess the impact of the Karnataka results on its prospects in Telangana, the BJP plans a survey