The small north Andhra district has been left out of the new executive body of the state BJP reportedly due to internal differences in the district unit. Questions are being raised how a party which is ambitious of coming to power in the state can completely ignore a district.
BJP, which is in power at the Centre, is eager to gain a foothold in Andhra Pradesh too. It is preparing strategies to come to power in the state in alliance with Jana Sena in next elections. As part of the efforts, the party’s new state president Somu Veerraju announced a new state executive. This new body has representation for all the districts except one: Vizianagaram.
The skipping of the district has sparked protests from the party cadres. The state party leadership says the internal feuds in the party are to blame for Veerraju’s decision. The north Andhra district had been having a significant presence in the state executive for all these years. Even the previous president KannaLakshminarayana made PakalapatiSanyasaraju (Murali) of Vizianagaram district as treasurer.
But party sources now say Sanyasiraju’s alleged irregularities as treasurers are a factor in leaving out the district from the new executive body. He has been accused of misusing the funds released by party high command for elections in 2019. It is also alleged that he is clinging to party posts and stunting the growth of new leadership in the district despite his age and discontent among rank and file of the party.
Party leaders who have been active in party programmes and carrying its flag during rain and shine are expressing pessimism over the party’s future in the district with tainted leaders still holding their posts.
Veerraju accommodated five leaders each from some districts in the new executive. Two-three leaders from same town were given posts. Completely skipping Vizianagaram has caused disquiet among the party cadres in the district. They are wondering how they can approach the people in the name of the party when no leader represents the district in the state party.
