Former Andhra Pradesh minister Kanna Lakshminarayana quits BJP; likely to join TDP

After sending the resignation, Lakshminarayana told reporters that he was vexed with the attitude of the party state unit president, Somu Veerraju, and had decided to quit BJP.

Originally a Congress leader, Lakshminarayana was a minister under five chief ministers in the combined state of Andhra Pradesh before 2014, and also served as the BJP state unit chief.

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Joined BJP in 2014

Months after the 2014 polls and the total rout of the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, Kanna Lakshminarayana, who holds sway among the numerically strong Kapu community, joined BJP in October 2014.

The resignation letter sent by Kanna Lakshminarayana to JP Nadda. (Supplied)

Interestingly, unhappy about not being given importance in the saffron party, he made attempts to quit the BJP and join the then Opposition party YSRCP before the 2019 polls.

However,  BJP’s then-general secretary Ram Madhav, who was overlooking party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, had reined in Lakshminarayana.

Later, in 2018, he was made the state unit president. However, Lakshminarayana’s appointment as state unit president did not go down well with a section in the BJP’s Andhra Pradesh unit, especially, Somu Veerraju, who was also a frontrunner for the post.

Replaced by Somu Veerraju

Two years after Lakshminarayana was made the state president of the BJP, he was replaced by Somu Veerraju, who was a national executive member of the party.

Somu Veerraju. (Creative Commons)

For a few months, Lakshminarayana was inactive in the BJP.  He didn’t participate in the state executive meeting that was held in Bhimavaram recently.

After reports surfaced that he was unhappy with the state leadership, a few members from central leadership held parleys with him and tried to placate him.

However, he finally decided to quit on Thursday.

Somu Veerraju and Kanna Lakshminarayana — both from the same Kapu community — were friends who turned foes.

Incidentally, Veerraju was instrumental in bringing Kanna Lakshminarayana into the party fold after the Congress rout in the 2014 polls. It was Veerraju who actively introduced Lakshminarayana to national leaders of the BJP.

Bid to join the YSRCP

Veerraju was among the BJP leaders who met Lakshminarayana in 2018 when he wanted to join the YSRCP. Along with former minister Pydikondala Manikyala Rao, Veerraju met Lakshminarayana and persuaded him not to leave the BJP in haste as the party’s central leadership has been looking at giving him due importance.

However, equations changed after Lakshminarayna was made state party president instead of Somu Veerraju who was a strong aspirant for the post.

On Thursday, Lakshminarayana alleged that the local leadership of the BJP was not in sync with the party’s central leadership.

“I have and will continue to have for life the highest respect towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I joined BJP after being attracted towards the policies, honesty and integrity of Modi.  But now I am quitting the party only because of the attitude and behaviour of the local leadership, especially Somu Veerraju,”  Lakshminarayana said.

He also often found fault with local BJP leaders criticising the Opposition TDP while going soft on the ruling YSRCP.

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Takes a dig at Narasimha Rao

Lakshminarayana also took a dig at BJP Rajya Sabha member GVL Narasimha Rao, who has been seen actively participating in the party’s Andhra Pradesh activities, saying that there were a few of people who were trying hard to become leaders overnight.

In response to Lakshminarayana’s resignation, GVL Narasimha Rao said: “It’s not appropriate to make such comments against Somu Veerraju. BJP had given utmost priority to Lakshminarayana by honouring him with posts like state party president and also made him a national executive member.”.

Likely to join TDP

Lakshminarayana is likely to join the Opposition TDP. It is learnt that he had already held talks with TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on his entry into the party.

There are chances that he may contest the 2024 polls on a TDP ticket either from his bastion Pedakurapadu or the Guntur West segment.

At one point in time, Jana Sena had also tried to woo Lakshminarayana.

Sensing that Lakshminarayana was unhappy with the BJP’s local leadership, Jana Sena senior leader and party’s political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar visited Lakshminarayana.

However, Lakshminarayana appears to have finally decided on joining the TDP.