VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh BJP, part of the three-party ruling alliance, would kick-start its poll campaign for the local body polls after the TDP- led grouping finalises the list of contestants.The BJP, as a minor partner, is seeking allotment of five to 10 ward members in each municipal corporation, municipality, nagar panchayat, ZPTC, MPTC and gram panchayat. It also seeks the post of a mayor and a few posts of chairpersons and vice chairpersons for the urban local bodies where the party has considerable ground-level support.
According to paty sources, the BJP leadership is aiming to reach out to the people and place before them the quantum of funds released by the central government for the several welfare schemes and developmental works in the last 12 years, civic-body wise.
State BJP general secretary and the party’s election coordinator Nagothu Ramesh Naidu said, “The BJP led NDA government is developing the nation’s basic infrastructure, pumping huge funds into the state and initiating a series of welfare schemes. We would highlight these before the voters and seek their support.”
The BJP hopes to wrest power in two municipal corporations, five municipalities and two nagar panchayats, subject to finalisation of the seat-sharing among the three parties. It would also seek seats in the rural local bodies.
However, a section of the senior leaders are cynical about the party’s ability to bargain for a major share of seats in the local body polls. While the BJP- led NDA government is pumping huge funds to the state for major projects, the party is organisationally failing to build its muscles. It plays second-fiddle to the dominant Telugu Desam, while the third partner, Jana Sena, has selective clout across constituencies.
They note that the Jana Sena is able to bargain for more seats.
While chief minister Chandrababu Naidu appropriates full credit for the flow of funds from the Centre, the state BJP leadership is largely speechless. The party, even as it shares power, fails to build an identity for itself in AP.
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