The speculation about Krishna Madiga’s candidature gained currency after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on 22 April, shortly before Naidu’s discussion with Shah.
Published Apr 23, 2025 | 2:16 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 23, 2025 | 2:16 PM
![Amit Shah and Chandrababu Naidu. (X)]](https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media.thesouthfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Amit-Shah-and-Chandrababu-Naidu.-X.jpeg "Amit Shah and Chandrababu Naidu. (X)]")
Amit Shah and Chandrababu Naidu. (X)]
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu has ceded the seat to the BJP in lieu of unadulterated support to the state, recognising the party’s strategic interests in the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar later in 2025 and Tamil Nadu elections in 2026.
The BJP is set to elect a member to the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh after CM Chandrababu Naidu has ceded the seat to its ally. The saffron party has to choose between Manda Krishna Madiga, founder-president of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS), and K Annamalai, former Tamil Nadu BJP president, as its candidate for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat in Andhra Pradesh, according to sources. The other name doing the rounds was former union minister Smriti Irani.
The Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant after YSRCP member V Vijayasai Reddy resigned in January.
The BJP is expected to finalise its candidate soon. The last date for filing the nomination papers is 29 April. The by-election has been slated for 9 May.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu has ceded the seat to the BJP, recognising the party’s strategic interests in the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar later in 2025 and Tamil Nadu elections in 2026.
The speculation about Krishna Madiga’s candidature gained currency after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on 22 April, shortly before Naidu’s discussion with Shah.
Speaking to reporters later, Krishna Madiga said he met Naidu and expressed his gratitude for Andhra Pradesh’s ordinance on sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes (SCs), which he described as a dream fulfilled for the Madiga community in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
According to sources, the BJP is leaning toward nominating Krishna Madiga with significant influence in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and among his community in other states. The party views his candidature as a strategic move to strengthen its position in Bihar, where it seeks to reduce reliance on the unpredictable Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar.
The BJP aims to outshine Nitish Kumar’s influence and sees Krishna Madiga’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha as part of this broader strategy.
The Centre had filed an affidavit with the Supreme Court after Narendra Modi promised to ensure early resolution of the case at a public meeting organised by Krishna Madiga in Secunderabad ahead of the Telangana Assembly elections in 2023. MRPS leaders believe that it paved the way for the apex court to deliver its judgement on 1 August 2024, in favour of sub-categorisation of SCs.
Though the Congress implemented the sub-categorisation in Telangana, it would not have happened without the Supreme Court judgement. To this extent, both Krishna Madiga and the BJP are perceived to have warmed up to the Madigas of the state.
The BJP believes this move will resonate with SC sub-castes nationwide, enhancing its electoral prospects by improving access to government jobs and professional education for marginalised groups.
Also Read: Former YSRCP MP Vijayasai Reddy appears before SIT
Though Krishna Madiga might go to the Rajya Sabha as a BJP member, the TDP is also likely to gain from it, as it was under its dispensation that sub-categorisation was done in Andhra Pradesh. Naidu is also keen on consolidating the Madigas in the state in his favour.
His gesture of allowing Krishna Madiga to go to the Rajya Sabha might also help him secure the Madiga constituency, particularly at a time when the Malas, who are mostly Christians and a dominant group among the SCs, are believed to be with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Alternatively, the BJP is contemplating fielding K Annamalai, who recently stepped down as Tamil Nadu BJP president, paving the way for the entry of Nainar Nagendran. This change was prompted by the BJP’s desire to mend ties with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, as Annamalai’s earlier criticism of AIADMK icons had strained relations between the two parties.
Despite his exit, Annamalai remains a valued member of the BJP. Under his leadership, BJP’s vote share in Tamil Nadu increased from 3.66 percent in 2019 to 11.2 percent in 2024. The party, however, contested in alliance with AIADMK in 2019 in fewer seats but sans AIADMK in 2024 in larger number of seats ultimately adding to its vote share. Annamalai’s appeal among youth, his “En Mann, En Makkal” (My Land, My People) padayatra from Rameshwaram to Palladam from 28 July 2023 to 28 February 2024 helped BJP gain a following in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP is wary of the emerging Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay, which has declared the BJP its ideological foe. Although K Annamalai had to be ousted as state party chief to accommodate an alliance with the AIADMK in poll-bound Tamil Nadu. BJP believes his presence – either in Rajya Sabha or in other election-bound states – will add strength.
Elevating Annamalai to the Rajya Sabha could strengthen the BJP’s efforts to work shoulder to shoulder with the AIADMK, avoiding past wounds, while addressing the challenges posed by TVK and the DMK.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
