BJP eyeing Tirupati Lok Sabha seat amid speculation over its alliance with TDP-JSP combine in Andhra Pradesh
The Hindu
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is keen to repeat its victory of the 1999 elections in the prestigious Tirupati (SC) Lok Sabha constituency in 2024 even as speculations are rife that the party would join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-Jana Sena Party (JSP) combine for the forthcoming elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is keen to repeat its victory of the 1999 elections in the prestigious Tirupati (SC) Lok Sabha constituency in 2024 even as speculations are rife that the party would join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-Jana Sena Party (JSP) combine for the forthcoming elections.
In a straight fight in the 1999 elections, BJP nominee and a former bureaucrat N. Venkataswamy defeated then Congress candidate Chinta Mohan, albeit with a thin margin of 12,497 votes.
A spiritual centre and land of temples, Tirupati is considered a prestigious seat even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of winning more than 400 Lok Sabha seats in the country. The BJP is eyeing the Tirupati seat as it ticks a majority of the points of being an ideal voter base of the party—religious importance, predominantly urban, elite and educated voters, an academic hub of seven universities, national institutes such as IIT, IISER and IIIT (Sri City).
In 1999, BJP’s then-alliance partner TDP had helped it consolidate the voters. The BJP is hoping for a repeat performance in 2024 elections as political pundits see a good possibility of its alliance with the TDP-JSP combine nearing fruition. Political analysts also point to the perceptible inactivity in the TDP and the JSP camps regarding the Tirupati Lok Sabha seat. They call it a pointer to the likelihood of the seat going the BJP.
The BJP is considering the candidature of its State Secretary S. Muni Subramanyam, a civil contractor for the Tirupati look Sabha seat. Mr. Subramanyam’s public outreach programmes over the last 14 years as well as his past connections as the spokesperson of the erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) floated by actor K. Chiranjeevi are being viewed as his strengths.
Similarly, retired IAS officer Dasari Srinivasulu is also tipped as a possible candidate in view of his RSS background and his association with Sangh Parivar’s ABVP during his college days. As a member of Samarasata Seva Foundation, he has played a key role in building temples in rural areas to curb religious conversions.
Bengaluru commuters demand platform screen doors for safety, but high costs and engineering challenges hinder implementation on existing metro routes.
Madras HC to hear appeals on December 12 regarding the lighting of Mahadeepam at Thirupparankundram temple.
N. Ram warns that hate politics threatens India’s democracy, urging the South to remain a bastion against these forces.
Nanjil Sampath joins Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, revitalizing his political career after six years away from party politics.
D.K. Shivakumar announces that five Blue Line stations will open once construction is completed, enhancing Bengaluru's airport connectivity.
Russia begins fuel shipments for Kudankulam's third reactor, enhancing efficiency and extending operational cycles for the nuclear power project.
Supreme Court urges governments to simplify administration, warning that excessive rules may lead to judicial review and citizen burdens.
Trinamool MP Shatabdi Roy's remarks on Bangla-speaking deportations spark protests in Lok Sabha, igniting a heated political debate.
Sunali Khatun returns to India with her son after six months in Bangladesh, following Supreme Court intervention.
Warangal will be developed on the lines of Hyderabad, says Revanth
Three-tier security measures and traffic restrictions are in place for the India-South Africa ODI match in Vizag.
A seven-year-old girl dies from severe dengue shock syndrome in Bengaluru, highlighting the challenges faced by migrant families in healthcare access.
DGP reviews security arrangements for Global Summit