Political alliance normally helps a partner gain strength. But, the alliance has become a millstone round the neck of BJP in Telangana. The party is in alliance with TDP, a party which developed cold feet in Telangana to work to strengthen the organization following an alleged understanding between two chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh) and K Chandrasekhar Rao (Telangana).

Though BJP is an opposition party in new state, it’s own strength is not sufficient to take on the formidable TRS, which is the ruling party. So, it thought, with TDP, which has good organizational network, it could build an strong opposition movement in the state. But, the Naidu’s changed attitude towards KCR is militating against its dream of bringing the TRS to its knees.

Now, the BJP’s fear is that if TDP doesn’t take GHMC elections seriously, what would be the fate BJP in the state?

BJP wants an aggressive campaign against the TRS and chief minister Chandrasekhar Rao. The game plan is that an aggressive campaign by TDP based on the sense of insecurity the TRS engendered among the people of Seemandhra region would work in its favor. But, given the indications from the TDP, it looks more likely that TDP would make the Seemandhra’s fears as the poll plank.

And the party can’t dissolve the alliance on its own and go it alone to launch a fiery attack on the TRS. Because, the senior leaders of the party like M Venkaiah Naidu and Nirmala Sitaraman are enjoying the confidence of Naidu and they are expecting Naidu’s backing in getting nomination from Andhra Pradesh. So, the predicament of BJP in Hyderabad, it can’t raid the cripple horse, nor can it discard it.

Result is- the BJP is deluding itself into believing that Naidu would be the star campaigner for the BJP-TDP combine in GHMC polls and would visit every gully in the city and ask Hyderabad people, mostly Seemandhras, to vote for BJP and TDP candidates. See, how BJP senior leader Dr K Lakshman is imagining about Naidu’s campaign in polls.

He said Andhra chief Minister Naidu would crisscross every lane and bylane of Hyderabad city to make the TDP-BJP combine capture the Hyderabad mayor post.
He is also expecting several Union Ministers such as M Venkaiah Naidu, Bandaru Dattatreya will campaign in the GHMC polls by taking part in all street corner meetings. According to Lakshman, who is party’s floor leader, during the last four days of the campaign, Naidu and Venkaiah will participate in roadshows in every division of GHMC.

“Road-shows are planned on Jan 27, 28, 29 and 30 covering all divisions in the GHMC. Chandrababu Naidu and Venkaiah Naidu will undertake whirlwind tours across Hyderabad and Secunderabad during these programs, drumming up support for the TDP-BJP candidates,” he said.

TDP sources, however, are not sure of such an hectic campaign by Chandrababu Naidu. The party is still not able to get its act together- so the proposed public meeting of Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday had to be postponed. Would BJP survive in GHMC by banking on TDP, which looks like withdrawing from state.