BJP replaces state presidents in Telangana, AP

In an apparent attempt to douse the dissidence within the party ranks in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the BJP on Tuesday replaced the state unit presidents in both the states.

The BJP appointed union minister G Kishan Reddy as the president of Telangana and former union minister Daggubati Purandeswari as the president of Andhra Pradesh unit. The appointment comes into force with immediate effect.

Gossip mills were doing rounds for several weeks about the possible changes in both states as the earlier presidents Bandi Sanjay in Telangana and Somu Veerraju in Andhra Pradesh had been drawing criticism from within the party ranks.

Purandeswari, who had joined the BJP in 2014, is daughter of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder N T Rama Rao.

He also appointed former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy as a member of the national executive committee of the BJP. Kiran Kumar Reddy, the last chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh, had joined the BJP a couple of months ago.

Former TRS minister and currently BJP MLA, Eatala Rajender has been appointed as chairman of the election management committee of Telangana party unit.

Assembly elections in Telangana are due to be held later this year while Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled along with Lok Sabha elections next year.

Eatala Rajender and some other leaders were unhappy with the style of functioning of Bandi Sanjay and they had been demanding the central leadership to remove him.

Similarly, a section of BJP leaders in Andhra Pradesh were demanding a change in the state leadership.

Though Eatala Rajender group is happy following the change, several other party workers are unhappy over the choice of Kishan Reddy. They say that both Bandi Sanjay and Kishan Reddy have clandestine understanding with the BRS.

Some other leaders claim that central leadership chose Kishan Reddy in consultation with the BRS leadership as grapevine has it that the latter is the B-team of BJP.

Since the BJP is not in a position to take on BRS, the central leadership is said to be of the opinion that it is better to have clandestine understanding with BRS and prevent Congress from gaining in the elections, sources said. Similarly, Sunil Jakhar has been appointed as the Punjab unit president, while former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi has been appointed as the president of Jharkhand unit.