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

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Telangana, which was expected to energize the BJP cadre, is said to have left a bad taste among senior leaders as the Prime Minister is said to be irritated by infighting while the party is in a position to challenge the Congress government.

Sources within the party claimed that the Prime Minister was deeply unhappy with ongoing internal differences and factional politics. Staying away from them and spending unusually long time with Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan also irritated them.

The controversy surrounding Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit is also believed to have added to the unrest. Some BJP leaders alleged that some internal groups were trying to harm Mr. Bandi Sanjay politically by raising the issue at a sensitive time even though they knew it could harm the party.

“The Prime Minister is fully aware of the developments surrounding this incident, as well as the political moves made during his visit,” a senior leader said.

Some leaders feel the optics send a troubling signal to the cadre at a time when the BJP is trying to project Telangana as its next big political target in South India. “The Prime Minister rarely visits the state. Leaders expected more interaction with the party comprising 8 MPs and 8 MLAs,” a senior leader said with disappointment.

Another senior leader also saw an upside. Mr. Modi’s avoidance of prolonged interaction with senior leaders may have actually helped avert an uncomfortable situation. “If it had been a long meeting, the Prime Minister could have appointed them due to internal political rivalry hurting the party,” the leader said.

As the Municipal Corporation elections for three Commissionerates in Hyderabad approached, Mr Modi perhaps had more faith in Mr Naidu and defended Mr Pawan Kalyan, who could influence AP origin voters in Hyderabad, a senior official said. Is this why they are preferring the Prime Minister’s valuable time to State BJP leaders?