PM’s Telangana visit: Did BJP internal wranglings upset Modi?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Telangana, which was expected to energise the BJP cadre, is said to have left a sour taste among the top leaders as the PM is said to have been pissed off over the internal wranglings when the party was in a position to challenge the Congress government.

Sources within the party claimed that the Prime Minister was utterly unhappy due to persistent internal differences and factional politics. Staying away from them and spending an unusually long time with Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan also unnerved them.

The controversy surrounding Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son, which surfaced ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, is also believed to have added to the unease. Some BJP leaders alleged that certain internal groups were attempting to politically damage Mr. Bandi Sanjay by amplifying the issue at a sensitive time despite knowing it could damage the party.

“The Prime Minister is fully aware of the developments surrounding the episode and also the political moves made during his visit,” a senior leader claimed.

Some leaders feel the optics sent an uncomfortable signal to the cadre at a time when the BJP is trying to project Telangana as its next major political destination in South India. “The Prime Minister rarely visits the State. Leaders expected greater engagement with the State party with 8 MPs and 8 MLAs”, a senior leader said with a note of disappointment.

Another senior leader saw a positive side too. Mr. Modi avoiding a prolonged interaction with top leaders may have actually helped avoid an uncomfortable situation. “Had there been a long meeting, the Prime Minister might have taken them to task over the internal political rivalries damaging the party,” the leader claimed.

With Municipal Corporation elections to three Commissionerates of Hyderabad ahead, perhaps Mr. Modi had more faith in Mr. Naidu and Mr. Pawan Kalyan, who can influence the AP-origin voters in Hyderabad, argued a senior functionary. Is that the reason why they were favoured with precious time of the PM over the State BJP leaders?