If the speculations doing rounds in the political circles are true, TDP president and Andhra CM Chandrababu and his Telangana counterpart KCR might join hands to stall the entry of the BJP in the south, if possible with the help of power star and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, the DMK of Tamil Nadu, Left parties in the Kerala and JD (U) in Karnataka.
The latest confrontationist attitude of the TDP president towards the BJP and the silent strategies of the TRS in extending friendly hand to DMK working president M K Stalin are said to be the indicators towards their attempt to prevent the BJP growth in the south.
In the coming days, this joint strategy would be more evident, say sources.
For the last few months, the BJP, which has conquered most parts of the north India, has been desperately trying to make inroads into the south.
Reason: it requires maximum numbers from the south to make up for the losses it might face in the north in 2019 elections.
However, instead of depending on its allies like the TDP, the BJP wants to grow independently in the south.
In Tamil Nadu, it sought to play a doyble game by taking advantage of the split in the AIADMK and making friendship with the DMK, thereby gaining a footing in this southern state.
In Kerala, the BJP kicked up clashes with the Left parties with a hope to win a few MP seats. In Karnataka, it hopes to cash in on the anti-establishment atmosphere against the Congress.
Coming to the Telugu states, the BJP appears to be overestimating its strength. That is precisely why it is picking up quarrels with the ruling TDP by creating troubles for the Chandrababu Naidu government and projecting that Naidu was misusing the central funds for his personal prestige.
In the latest controversy on Polavaram tenders, too, the BJP is trying to expose Naidu’s alleged corruption. Though it has no chance of coming to power in AP, it hopes that it would win at least half a dozen MP seats.
In Telangana, the BJP wants to grow independently taking advantage of the weakness of the Congress party and the growing anti-incumbency against the TRS government. Here, too, it hopes to win at least a dozen MP seats, if it works hard.
But, if Naidu, KCR and other southern leaders join hands, it may not be possible for the BJP to achieve its Mission South, say political analysts.
