Telangana Elections 2023: After losing the Karnataka election earlier this year, BJP has put in all its might to get a foothold in south India by winning Telangana or atleast get a favourable number of seats. The priorities are two -- to win and not let Congress win. The main battle is between the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) and Congress, but the BJP will hope to get anti-incumbency votes and in turn hamoer Congress's chance to form a government in the state.


PM Modi, Central Schemes And...: What All BJP Has In Its Favour


Losing Karnataka was a jolt for the saffron party and so it decided to field all of its MPs from the state in the assembly elections. Its best bets are PM Narendra Modi's image, the Women's Reservation Bill and other central schemes. Congress has alleged that BRS is an unofficial partner of the BJP as the latter had backed the saffron party in Parliament on several decisions, including demonetisation and the GST.


However, the Prime Minister, in one of his rallies, attacked the KCR-led government. He had also said that the Chief Minister had approached him to join the NDA. BJP is eyeing gains since it won 48 of the 150 seats in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in 2020. The party also revoked the suspension of its only MLA in the state, T Raja Singh to ensure a win or at least maximum game to fail Congress's plans. Media reports say the party is also planning to back strong independent candidates in areas where it has nearly no presence -- only to make it a three-way battle to Congress's disadvantage.


BJP Lacks Clarity And Time To Get It


The local unit of the BJP in Telangana is almost dysfunctional. The removal of Bandi Sanjay as state president is being seen as the lack of strong leadership and organisational set-up in the state. Everything has been indirectly handed over to the central leadership. So, apart from an enthusiastic Congress propelled by Karnataka win, BJP also has to fight with the image of a 'settlement done with BRS'. 


The action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against BRS MLC K Kavitha and her name being mentioned in the Delhi Liquor Policy case is another arrow the BJP is trying to utilise in the assembly polls. However, many see a change of attitude in the way ED is approaching K Kavitha and other named in the case -- a possible disadvantage for the party. BRS has already declined to join the opposition's I.N.D.I.A bloc is citing differences in stance at regional and national level. 


K Kavitha had also said Congress cannot take things on its terms always, a hint towards intensifying rivalry with the grand old party.


Survey Predicts BRS And Congress At Centre Of Battle


According to the CVoter opinion poll, the BRS is projected to secure 43 to 55 seats, while the Congress is expected to win 48 to 60 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to secure only 5 to 11 seats, despite PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's strong pitches in the southern state.