Andhra Pradesh BJP chief Purandeswari says central leadership will take final call on alliances

Also read: Pawan Kalyan announces Jana Sena-TDP alliance for Andhra polls

‘BJP has nothing to do with it’

Speaking about the arrest of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the multi-crore skill development corporation scam, Purandeswari asserted that it was the BJP that first condemned the arrest — and sought to quell talk that her party had anything to do with the arrest.

She underlined that the Crime Investigation Department (CID), which filed the cases against Naidu and arrested him, reported to the state government, and questioned what the BJP had to do with it.

Moreover, Purandeswari noted that the BJP’s cadres and the party’s Telangana leadership had also condemned the way Naidu was arrested — allegedly without due process being followed.

On several occasions, many local BJP leaders have proclaimed that there would be no alliance with the TDP but their local ally, Kalyan, unilaterally declared that Jana Sena and TDP will join forces for the next elections, following a meeting with Naidu in the Rajamahendravaram central prison recently.

“After he explains, the party’s central leadership will also discuss with us and later take a decision,” said Purandeswari talking to reporters. She added that the Jana Sena was still a part of the NDA.

Also read: ACB Court adjourns hearing on Naidu’s interim bail petition to 19 Sept

Pawan Kalyan expects BJP support

While announcing the tie-up with TDP, Kalyan had also expressed confidence that this newfound partnership would have BJP’s ‘complete support’.

The Jana Sena has also decided to form a committee under the leadership of political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar to coordinate with BJP and TDP leaders.

The announcement came after a meeting the actor-politician had with Chandrababu Naidu, in the company of TDP leader and actor N Balakrishna, and Naidu’s son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh, at the Rajamahendravaram Central Jail during the “mulaqat” hour.

Pawan Kalyan announced the alliance after discussing the political climate in the state and the alleged vindictive politics of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration.

Also read: CID has nailed Naidu with evidence, says Jagan

Emphasised the need to oust YSRCP

Speaking to reporters, the Jana Sena chief emphasised the need to oust the YSRCP government at the hustings and expressed the hope that the BJP would join the effort. He stated that his primary goal was to put Andhra Pradesh back on the road to development.

He referred to Chandrababu Naidu as a seasoned politician and labelled Jagan Mohan Reddy as an economic offender.

Pawan Kalyan has long been advocating an alliance of all Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh, including the BJP, to challenge the YSRCP regime.

However, the BJP has been reluctant to confirm its participation in this three-party alliance, despite its desire to have Pawan Kalyan on its side. The BJP and Jana Sena are in a formal alliance.

Following his meeting with Naidu, Pawan Kalyan made an unequivocal statement about the alliance with Naidu.

Also read: Naidu, party ultimate beneficiaries of scam, says Andhra CID

Pawan Kalyan’s stand

The tone of his speech indicated that his decision was final, regardless of whether the BJP approved of it or not. It seemed like a message to the BJP to chart its course if it was unwilling to cooperate.

While Pawan Kalyan has previously shown support for Chandrababu Naidu, he had never been this explicit about contesting elections in alliance with him.

This shift may have occurred because the BJP reportedly had reservations about Naidu and did not want Pawan Kalyan to associate with him. However, the actor-politician has now made his support clear, regardless of the BJP’s stance.

He stated: “My decision may not please some people. I was the first person from South India to support Narendra Modi because I believed the nation needed a strong leader. When I supported Modi, many people criticised my decision. However, I do not go back on my stand once I take a decision.”

The Jana Sena chief clarified that he had never met Narendra Modi on his own and that each meeting was at Modi’s invitation. He stated that he didn’t want to waste such leaders’ time.

(With PTI inputs)