YSRCP, TDP MPs vie to get closer to BJP in Delhi

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh politics is witnessing unexpected twists and turns of late. The ruling YSRCP and the opposition TDP are competing with each other to get closer to BJP’s central leadership in Delhi, leaving the latter in a piquant situation.

Before AP Assembly polls, everyone considered that YSRCP had a “secret tie-up” with BJP. After TDP’s alliance with BJP fell apart before general elections, political analysts believed that the latter and YSRCP worked together to oust their “common rival” Naidu from power.

However, after YSRCP defeated TDP to gain power in AP in May this year, the political relations between YSRCP and BJP gradually strained. The reasons cited are Jagan taking “unilateral decisions” on cancelling Polavaram tenders, going for reverse bids, reviewing power purchase agreements by ignoring repeated advises from the Centre, etc.

The opposition TDP is trying to exploit this situation to its advantage and restore their ties with BJP.

YSRCP MPs, who want to maintain close relations with BJP at the Centre to protect their business interests, are also vying to meet PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The MPs have frequently defied the orders of party chief Jagan not to meet Modi-Amit Shah duo without his or Rajya Sabha member Vijayasai Reddy’s permission.

YSRCP MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy met Modi ignoring the diktat of Jagan. Before him, another YSRCP MP Raghurama Krishnam Raju also met Modi against Jagan’s wishes.

Now, TDP MPs made a beeline to meet Shah to thank him for recognising Amaravati as AP capital and releasing a revised map incorporating Amaravati as the capital. The info was missing in the original map issue by the Home Minister earlier this month.

TDP MPs Galla Jayadev, K Rammohan Naidu, K Ravindra Kumar and Thota Sitarama Laxmi met Amit Shah on Wednesday and complained against Jagan’s “misrule” and deteriorating law and order in AP.

Amit Shah reportedly told them that he was aware of the developments in AP and asked them to leave the issue with him. He said that he would take care of the problems raised by the TDP MPs.

It may be recalled that TDP Rajya Sabha members merged themselves with BJP soon after BJP retained power in general elections this year and became BJP MPs overnight. Now, it seems to be the turn of TDP and YSRCP Lok Sabha members to merge into BJP, if the situation demands.

TDP and YSRCP MPs are cosying up to BJP irrespective of their party chiefs’ stands towards the Bharatiya Janata Party.