Will TDP demand for special status to Andhra Pradesh put BJP on backfoot?

By Sudhansu R Das

The voters can be said to have performed well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The National Democratic Alliance could not win 400 seats as hyped by their leaders and by most exit polls despite the politicisation around the construction of Ram Mandir, the scrapping of Article 370, and India being a trillion-dollar economy. NDA won 292 Lok Sabha seats, which is a comfortable majority.

The Congress on the other hand has significantly improved its position from 52 to 99 seats, and its party leaders appear to have become so enthusiastic that they are tempted to go in to negotiate with NDA’s allies Telugu Desam Party and Nitish Kumar for a break up with NDA, without realising that the Congress’ only objective has been to stop BJP from forming a government.

At present, NDA appears well entrenched with 292 seats; no ally is likely leave BJP at this stage. If some party goes out of NDA, BJP has enough "firefighters" to fill in the gap by wooing Congress allies.

No doubt, BJP with 240 MPs generates more gravitational pool than the Congress to keep alliance partners together. Indeed, it may not be easy for the Congress with 99 Lok Sabha seats to hold its allies for long.

However, BJP should know that TDP which promised people special status for Andhra Pradesh may put BJP on the backfoot, as the demand will trigger similar demands from other poor states such as Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu may wait for the opportune moment to raise the demand. As for Nitish Kumar, he may not tilt to the Congress at the moment.

Congress leaders should know, if they become desperate to form a government, it will bring more of a problem than a solution for the grand old party. Afterall, the fact is, the INDIA block missed the opportunity to win more seats because it could not have a unified command; popular leader Arvind Kejriwal was reluctant to join the INDIA block initially, and Nitish Kumar backed out and rejoined NDA.

Congress leaders should know, if they become desperate to form a government, it will bring more problems for the grand old party

The Congress could have won more seats if it focused less on PM Narendra Modi and more on environment, unemployment, price rise, debt burden, income disparity, poor health and education facilities, Covid-19 mismanagement, demonetization, man-made summer heat, deaths due to natural calamities, farmers’ suicides, and Chinese incursion into Ladakh.

BJP on the other hand happily dug out Congress’ alleged historical blunders on economy, national integrity, appeasement of the minority communities, corruption, and the 1962 war with China with "elaborate" details.

The statement to discontinue reservation by changing the Constitution was highlighted in the election campaign by the opposition parties; it had an impact on Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The BJP lost 63 seats and won 240 seats, which is a setback for the party.

This happened even though it had maximum number of electoral bonds, a robust social media, and the Sangh Parivar. It would need to introspect its losses, because the erosion of votes took place amidst big claims of success stories.

BJP has won the Assembly polls in Odisha for the first time, defeating the 25-year-old Naveen Pattanaik government. Will the party to live above personal relations to select a CM for Odisha and cabinet ministers to handle the key departments at the Centre? One should wait and watch.

Comments

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Priced out of life: The silent crisis in India's healthcare... who pays attention, and who takes responsibility?

By Aysha* Manisha (name changed) has been living with a disease since the birth of her third child—over ten years now—in the New Seemapuri area of North East Delhi. She visited GTB Hospital, where a doctor told her that treatment would cost ₹50,000, as the hospital would charge for the cost of an instrument that needs to be implanted in her body. Several NGOs have visited her home, yet she has received no support for treatment and continues to live with the illness. Manisha is divorced, without access to ration or pension, and lives with her three children by begging outside a temple.

From snowstorms to heatwaves: India’s alarming climate shift in 2025

By Dr. Gurinder Kaur* Climate change is no longer a future concern—it is visibly affecting every country today. Since the beginning of 2025, its effects on India have become starkly evident. These include unseasonal snowfall in hill states, the early onset of heatwaves in southern regions, a shortening spring season, and unusually early and heavy rainfall, among other phenomena.

'Incoherent, dogmatic': Near collapse of international communist movement

By Harsh Thakor* The international communist movement today lacks coherence or organizational unity. Many groups worldwide identify as communist, Marxist-Leninist, or Maoist, but most promote dogmatism, reformism, or capitulation, using revolutionary rhetoric. Some trace their origins to historical betrayals, like Trotsky’s efforts to undermine the Soviet socialist transition or the 1976 coup in China that restored a bourgeoisie under Deng Xiaoping. Others focus on online posturing rather than mass engagement. Small communist organizations exist in places like Turkey, South Asia, and the Philippines, where Maoist-led struggles continue. No international forum unites them, and no entity can forge one.

Honouring Birsa Munda requires resisting the loot of natural resources

By Raj Kumar Sinha* The legacy of Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda is inseparable from the struggle to protect indigenous land, identity, and rights. On June 9, as we commemorate Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs’ Day), it is imperative to reflect not only on his life but also on the ongoing injustices faced by tribal communities in the name of “development.”

Old bias, new excuses: How western media misrepresents India’s anti-terror strikes

By Gajanan Khergamker The recent Indian military strikes on Pakistan, dubbed Operation Sindoor, have sparked a storm of international media coverage. Several prominent outlets have portrayed India as the aggressor in the escalating conflict, raising concerns over biased reporting. This commentary critiques coverage by foreign media outlets such as The New York Times , Reuters, BBC, and CNN, which have often been accused of framing India’s actions as escalatory while downplaying or omitting critical context regarding Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism. By examining historical patterns and current geopolitical dynamics, this analysis highlights the recurring selective framing, omission of evidence, and a tendency to favor narratives aligned with Western geopolitical interests over factual nuance.

Sewer deaths 'systemic crimes' rooted in caste-based oppression, economic marginalization

By Sanjeev Kumar* Despite repeated government claims that manual scavenging has been abolished in India, the relentless spate of deaths among sewer and septic tank workers continues to expose a deeply entrenched reality of caste-based discrimination, systemic neglect, and institutional failure. A press release issued by the Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) paints a harrowing picture of hazardous conditions faced by sanitation workers across the country—conditions that routinely lead to fatal outcomes with little to no accountability.

Vishwamitri river revival? New report urges action on pollution, flood risks, wildlife protection

By A Representative The Vishwamitri Committee, formed by the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission, has submitted two supplementary reports on June 5, 2025, detailing efforts to rejuvenate the Vishwamitri River in Vadodara, considered Gujarat's cultural capital. The reports (click here and here ) respond to directives from a May 26, 2025, GSHRC hearing. Comprising environmentalists, urban planners, and zoologists like Neha Sarwate, Rohit Prajapati, Dr. Ranjitsinh Devkar, Dr. Jitendra Gavali, and Mitesh Panchal, the committee focuses on mitigating pollution, stabilizing riverbanks, managing flood risks, and preserving biodiversity, particularly for crocodiles and turtles.

India’s $693 billion illusion: Why our foreign exchange reserves are built on debt, not strength

By Hemantkumar Shah* India’s foreign exchange reserves have touched a staggering $693 billion, of which $586 billion is in the form of foreign currencies—primarily U.S. dollars—and the rest in gold. The government and many economists tout this as a sign of economic strength. But is this truly a matter of national pride, or should it raise concerns?

Search This Blog