The BJP’s invitation to Jana Sena Party (JSP) president Pawan Kalyan to participate in the NDA meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi on July 18 brought into sharp focus the evolving political scenario in Andhra Pradesh vis-a-vis his dissatisfaction with the manner in which the BJP-JSP alliance struggled to make a significant headway against the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the possibility of JSP teaming up with the TDP, which neither party has dismissed so far.
Whether the BJP and JSP will continue their alliance or part their ways in the run-up to the 2024 elections depends on the outcome of Mr. Pwan Kalyan’s interactions with the BJP top brass including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The invitation for NDA meeting came against the backdrop of Mr. Pawan Kalyan’s exhortation to the opposition parties to not let the anti-YSRCP votes split and TDP national president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s call to the ‘democratic forces’ to form a coalition of sorts to thwart the YSRCP’s plan to retain power.
