Both ruling YSRCP and opposition TDP are competing with each other to show their loyalty to BJP at the Centre. They have extended unconditional support to the farm Bills introduced by the BJP government in the Parliament. Their behavior gives an impression that leaders of both parties are eagerly waiting for the benevolence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But the saffron party in Andhra Pradesh is simply ignoring this unrequited love of the two rival parties. It is claiming that it will grow into a major political force in the state on its own. The party is trying to make most of the attacks on temples by being in the forefront of the agitations against them.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, for his part, is completely ignoring the agitations of BJP leaders and is leaving no stone unturned to curry favour with Modi and Amit Shah. On the other hand, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who spit fire at Modi during elections, is not leaving any opportunity to praise him. Amid speculation of simultaneous elections, Naidu is dismissing efforts to build a third front and insisting that BJP and Modi are the only choice for the nation. As part of his efforts to attract Modi’s attention, the TDP supported the controversial farm Bills in Parliament unconditionally.
YSRCP leaders are not uttering a word against the BJP government at the Centre or Prime Minister. They fear that if they anger the BJP, the Union government may rake up CBI cases pending in courts and get the bail of Jagan cancelled. They too extended support to farm Bills in Rajya Sabha where party MP V Vijayasai Reddy even spoke in support of them. It is to be noted that BJP’s longtime ally Shiromani Akali Dal has opposed the bills.
The two main political parties in the state are dreading to confront the saffron party when it is trying to strengthen itself in the southern states. They are even vying with each other to ally with the BJP. Both parties are putting their leaders in New Delhi on alert for the latest developments in BJP with regard to them. Let us see when the BJP leadership heeds their pleas and showers mercies on them.
