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Modi is plotting a lotus boom in South India
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s battle plan for South India in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections has raised many eyebrows.
While many thought that the BJP will go in for a pre-poll alliance, it now appears that the party has decided to fight the elections on its own in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra.
This decision, reportedly, has been taken at the insistence of the party’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi.
Sources say that Modi has told his party men that it would be in the best interest of the party if they did not ally with anyone as of now, as it would only drive away prospective allies.
Rediff.com takes a look at Modi’s agenda for south Indian states.
Click on NEXT to read about how the Gujarat strongman intends to open BJP’s account in Tamil Nadu...
Modi is plotting a lotus boom in South India
In Tamil Nadu, the BJP would ultimately have to rely on an alliance as the party does not have a standing in the state.
While the natural ally seems to be the J Jayalalithaa’s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Modi feels that a commitment should be made only after the elections.
He feels that all options need to be kept open and that an alliance should be made with the party which secures the maximum number of seats.
That’s largely because of the divergent agenda of the parties.
Click on NEXT to read about Modi's game plan in Andhra Pradesh...
Modi is plotting a lotus boom in South India
In Andhra Pradesh, there was a lot of chatter about Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
While Naidu has kept his cards close to his chest, Modi feels that any sort of an alliance should be kept at bay for now.
There have been some indications of YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy cozying up to the BJP. The BJP does not want to shut this door.
An alliance with Naidu at this moment would drive Jagan away, Modi feels.
He believes that there is a good chance of Jagan coming out on top in the elections and he could be a better ally because of the number of seats he can offer to the NDA.
Click on NEXT to read Modi's game plan in Karnataka...
Modi is plotting a lotus boom in South India
Karnataka is considered to be the best chance for the BJP. The party is expecting over 16 seats, but the party may find that difficult without B S Yeddyurappa on their side.
Yeddyurappa, who launched the Karnataka Janata Paksha, has often dropped hints on rejoining the BJP. However, he would like to wait a while longer and see which way the tide swings.
Modi, meanwhile, has decided that he will not insist on Yeddyurappa’s return and has given the Karnataka BJP leadership the freedom to take a call on the Lingayat leader.
The elections are being fought on a Modi wave and the importance of having Yeddyurappa in the party is something that the state BJP would have to decide upon.
A BJP leader from Karnataka says that Modi does not want to antagonise anyone in the state BJP and a two-way split at this moment would not be in the best interest of the party, which was beaten badly in the recent assembly elections.
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