BJP deploys architects of UP win to secure Telangana, expand its southern footprint

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to deploy the architects of its Uttar Pradesh victories for success and expansion of the party's footprint in the crucial southern state of Telangana.

The saffron unit has decided to utilise the services of former party chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party’s National General Secretary Sunil Bansal to formulate and finalise party strategy for the crucial state. The duo had been instrumental in the BJP coming back to power in UP and also to secure a good show in Lok Sabha 2019.

It is understood that as part of evolving a successful strategy, BJP has deployed several teams across Telangana to hold a survey regarding the voters' moods. The feedback from these surveys will be used to finalise plans for a successful challenge to K Chandrashekar Rao headed Telangana Rashtra Samithi government in the state.

Shah is expected to visit the state soon where he is likely to hold wide consultations with the party’s Telangana leadership along with Bansal. The importance of winning the state has also meant that the party now has two full-time General secretaries deployed in Telangana to ensure its success. Tarun Chugh’s deployment to the state has continued despite the recent appointment of Bansal.

The saffron unit had sounded the poll bugle for the state after it held the party’s national executive in Hyderabad in July this year. Sources stated that the BJP hopes to give a tough fight to the K Chandrashekar Rao headed Telangana Rashtra Samithi government in the state Assembly polls in 2023. Over the past several years, BJP has been eyeing the annihilation of the dynasty in Telangana. Dynasty was also a factor which the BJP had successfully countered in Uttar Pradesh and it hopes to repeat the same in Telangana.

Importance of Telangana in BJP’s southern push

Apart from Karnataka, where the BJP will seek another mandate in 2023, the saffron party feels that it has its best chance to expand its southern footprint in Telangana. The importance that the BJP attaches to securing a victory in Telangana can be gauged from the fact that its top leaders have been visiting the state repeatedly and the saffron unit held its national executive in July this year in Hyderabad.

The BJP has been eyeing expansion in South India ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and Telangana is an important part of the plan to secure additional seats in the region. With 17 Lok Sabha seats, Telangana is an important part of the party's southward expansion.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the party was able to secure only one seat. However, with an aggressive Hindu-Muslim pitch and an attack on the dynastic legacy of the KCR-led TRS, the saffron party hopes to make a major gain in the region.

The BJP is now playing its cards to emerge as a serious contender in the 119-member Assembly.

Over the next one year, the Central government's proposal to celebrate Telangana Liberation Day is also expected to create a positive narrative for the BJP.

The yearlong celebrations of Telangana Liberation Day, being spearheaded by Union Culture Ministry led by local MP G Kishan Reddy, are expected to create awareness regarding various welfare measures introduced by the Central government for the people of the state. The aim is to increase the outreach of the Centre and establish a rapport with the voters, sources said.

Apart from all these factors the BJP also hopes that a continued division in opposition parties and strong support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi amongst people is expected to help it gain Telangana.