The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : BJP gives free hand to district units

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 05, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

BJP gives free hand to district units

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 4. In a significant political stand, the BJP has given freedom to district party units on the question of allying with the Telugu Desam Party for the coming elections to local bodies in the State.

This political line was taken at the two-day State Executive meeting of the BJP in which there was vociferous demand from party functionaries for a re-look at the alliance with the TDP.

Explaining the party's decision at the concluding session on Sunday, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Bandaru Dattatreya, said the option given to district units would help them ensure victory of "good workers" in future.

It may be recalled that the BJP State president, N. Indrasena Reddy, during his presidential address at the State Executive yesterday, had indirectly blamed the TDP for the party's rout saying voters had treated the TDP and the BJP in the same manner without distinguishing the differences between the two. Despite being in the opposition, the BJP had to face the "anti-incumbency" factor in the State. He criticised the TDP for not effectively taking steps against its rebel candidates, who dented the BJP's prospects in 13 constituencies. He also accused the TDP leadership of failing to explain to its cadres the need for the tie-up with the BJP.

In spite of the demand from a section of the party cadre for adopting a pro-Telangana stand, the BJP has decided to adopt a "wait and watch" policy on the issue. Mr. Dattatreya stressed the need to unveil the party's strategy on the Telangana issue when the bill for separate Statehood was introduced in Parliament.

Referring to the variance in the stands between the Congress and the TRS on the Telangana issue, he said the TRS was confidently saying Telangana would be formed in nine months while the former was maintaining that they were committed to the second States re-organisation committee.

He also criticised the TRS for remaining "silent'' on the move of the Government to the set up regional development boards. He said the BJP's stand on Telangana was clear and separate State could not be achieved without its support. The BJP should expose the "true colours" of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on GO 610 and its attempts to mislead people on the issue.

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Andhra Pradesh