Why did this leader call BJP’s alliance with Jana Sena and TDP in Andhra a matter of case study?

New Delhi: Even as speculations of a tussle between BJP and TDP over more cabinet posts in Modi Cabinet and the post of Lok Sabha Speaker are gaining momentum with the formation of the new government, BJP’s Andhra Pradesh unit president Daggubati Purandeswari said that the TDP-Janasena-BJP alliance is a subject of case study. There should be a study on how the alliance should work and it will be strong at both the state and central levels.

‘Alliance in Andhra Pradesh a case study’
The state president’s statement came at a time when the BJP joined the alliance late and the Pawan Kalyan-led Janasena Party took the initiative to partner with the TDP in 2023 while Chandrababu Naidu was in jail. Purandeswari told our colleague Economic Times in a conversation that the BJP joined this alliance much later, in January-February this year. However, we have an excellent ecosystem at all levels from the assembly to the parliamentary constituency level in the alliance. This helped us to form a vision in electoral terms and this alliance will definitely run a good government as well. he/she said, ‘I would call this alliance a case study in itself.’

‘All allies have the same views’
“The reason for the synergy is also that the alliance partners are similar in terms of ideological values. BJP is committed to the principle of ‘Antyodaya’ and ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’. TDP’s ideology considers people ‘equal to God’ and society as ‘main temple’. Janasena also puts the common man at the centre. So all alliance partners have the same ideology and that is what binds us together,” he/she said. he/she also pointed out that the alliance has other similarities too, such as common commitment towards implementation of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and ensuring proper financial benefits to the state.

‘BJP remains committed to help Andhra Pradesh’
he/she said, ‘Earlier also the BJP-led central government was committed to ensuring proper financial support to Andhra Pradesh. Special status is not possible due to the restriction imposed by the 15th Finance Commission. However, a special package was agreed upon in 2017. The state government then proposed it through a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ (SPV). However, this SPV was not created then nor under the outgoing YSR Congress government. So if the SPV model is revived now and it is set up properly, then Andhra Pradesh will definitely get this amount.’

On possible areas of differences in the alliance, especially on the minority question as Muslims form a significant chunk of the population in Andhra Pradesh and a support base for the TDP, Purandeswari said her party was only against religion-based reservation and did not discriminate against any minority.

‘Many apprehensions were raised during the election campaign’
“During the election campaign, some apprehensions were raised about changing the Constitution. We were able to successfully explain that we never intended to do so. The question does not arise and in fact it cannot be done. I think the message got across clearly. We also explained how the BJP brought in EWS reservation and it does not discriminate on the basis of religion. In fact, none of the beneficiary schemes of the central government do so,” he/she said.

Purandeswari, daughter of TDP founder NT Rama Rao, has not been inducted into the Council of Ministers, but there is speculation in New Delhi about a possible bigger role for her. This is because she was appointed as the BJP Andhra Pradesh president in 2023 and has big wins to her name in the state, where she forged a winning coalition that is crucial for NDA 3.0. However, she says she is committed to her current task of making space for the BJP in a state dominated by two strong regional parties. Having represented people from different regions of Andhra Pradesh – Bapatla, Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry – she is well placed to do so.