BJP leaders from Rayalaseema want one of their own to be made as the Andhra Pradesh BJP Chief saying that they haven't received any representation in nearly three decades.
In the history of the BJP in AP including undivided AP, there have been only two heads of AP BJP from Rayalaseema.
After former MLC D. Suryaprakash Reddy of Anantpur, who headed the Bharatiya Janata Party on its formation in 1980 as its in-charge president for less than a year, Rayalaseema got an opportunity only in 1999 when Chilakam Ramachandra Reddy of Chittoor district was chosen for the top post.
This indicates that the region got offers just twice in more than three decades and not even once in the last decade-and-a-half.
Now the current chief of BJP, Hari Babu is no longer keen on the top post as he wants to concentrate on his constituency, Vizag.
Party State vice-president Kapileswaraiah of Kurnool opted out of the race as he was made the election officer. This leaves former Women’s Commission Member Shanta Reddy from Tirupati, and Madanapalle strongman Challapalli Narasimha Reddy from Rayalaseema in the fray.
To his credit, Narasimha Reddy has been in the BJP since the early eighties. Now Purandeswari is also competing on Rayalaseema quota because she had contested the last Lok Sabha elections unsuccessfully from Rajampet in Rayalaseema.
Whether the BJP would consider this technicality and consider her or whether they will dump her and choose a loyal worker like Narasimha Reddy, remains to be seen.
