Internal rife is still on in Andhra Pradesh BJP over the allocation of seats as the loyalist group of the saffron party believes that merit is not the sole criterion for getting a ticket to contest the elections. According to the party sources, leaders who have joined from the TDP were given preference over the loyalists while distributing the tickets.

There were several rounds of talks between the TDP and BJP over Anaparthi Assembly constituency. The Anaparthi seat caused a great deal of confusion among the rank and file of both the parties. Nallimilli Rama Krishna Reddy, who had resigned from the TDP last week, joined the BJP and the party rewarded him with the Anaparthi Assembly seat. A few senior BJP leaders including Lakshmipathi Raja and IYRK Rao have severely criticised the coalition dharma through their tweets.

Initially, the TDP refused to give the Anaparthi seat to Nallimilli as the seat was to be allotted to the BJP as part of the seat-sharing deal. This led to the rebellion in the party as Nallimilli supporters came down heavily on the party leadership for its decision. Nallimilli had decided to contest the elections as an independent candidate.

Meanwhile, the BJP leadership announced an ex-serviceman Shiva Rama Krishnam Raju as its candidate. Raju had started his campaigning in the constituency. As Naidu did not want to upset Nallimilli and also wanted to follow the coalition dharma, he ensured the joining of Nallimilli in the saffron party and eventually he was declared as BJP’s candidate from Anaparthi seat. Subsequently, the BJP leadership asked the ticket aspirant Raju to stop the election campaigning.

The BJP loyalists are seemingly not happy with the current state of affairs. Some leaders have remarked that the BJP has become a branch office for the TDP and Naidu a de facto CEO of the party.

Also Read: Shock to Naidu from BJP; Alliance in Doldrums