Hyderabad: GHMC outcome may give impetus to BJP’s south plans

HYDERABAD: “A victory in GHMC today will lead to victory in the next assembly elections in Telangana tomorrow, a victory tomorrow will lead to BJP‘s emergence in all southern states the day after”. This mantra was drilled into BJP cadre by party’s national leaders, including Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda, during their campaign for the civic polls.
BJP’s performance in the GHMC polls would help to push for its grand dream of making inroads into south India, though its immediate focus might be on Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, during his campaign, also spoke about the southern march of the saffron party. However, Dubbak MLA Raghunandan Rao, who actually set the ball rolling for BJP’s aggressive pitch with his caustic remarks in GHMC polls, had stated that Dubbak and GHMC verdicts were going to be turning points for BJP and southern politics.

Amit Shah to UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath to dozen of other leaders, who campaigned and camped in the city, reiterated the party’s southern plans. Except Karnataka, BJP had never been able to breach the southern fortress. Incidentally, the party has presence in pockets of Greater Hyderabad for long and even sent MLAs to the assembly from these areas.
BJP leaders even announced that GHMC elections were a referendum before the next assembly elections in Telangana. While BJP had it relatively easy with no formidable opposition in place, it emerged as a strong challenger to the ruling TRS.

The neighbouring Andhra Pradesh might be keenly looking at Hyderabad results. With TDP on the other side of the political spectrum, Jana Sena on its side, BJP’s game plan is clear, say sources. Party wants to fight TDP first for the opposition role as the latter has only two digit seats in the assembly.
In Kerala, where Congress and Left parties are strong, BJP wants to first make its present felt. Union minister Amit Shah’s visits to south might become frequent now. Interestingly, BJP has fielded over 600 candidates from Christian and Muslim communities in the local body polls to be conducted this month. This is a ploy to reach out to them where their numbers are high.
In Tamil Nadu, BJP’s vote share in the 2016 assembly polls was 2.86% , more than DMK’s key allies CPI, CPM and VCK had bagged together. Party hopes to win at least five to ten seats in the upcoming assembly polls.