Telangana is the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) last hope to win elections in at least one of the five southern states ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The party faced a major setback in the Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 as it lost to the Congress by 69 seats. Now, in Telangana, the BJP will witness a three-way contest with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and a buoyed Congress. The TDP-Jana Sena is also in the fray.

Telangana, which will vote on November 30, is currently ruled by the BRS under Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. The result of the 119-member Assembly will be announced on December 3. With the Telangana Election 2023, the BRS is eyeing a third time in the state. The tenure of the current 119-member assembly will end on January 16, 2024.

Now, the BJP has emerged as the principal challenger to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS after winning a few bypolls and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections in the past three years. It, however, suffered subsequent internal squabbles.

Here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of the BJP in Telangana:

STRENGTHS

The BJP, according to news agency PTI, has maintained a clean image in the state. Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity and the party's political agility work for the benefit of the party.

The BJP also has support from Sangh Pariwar, such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliates Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.

WEAKNESSES:

The party's central leadership replaced Bandi Sanjay Kumar with Union Minister G Kishan Reddy as state president of the BJP in order to pacify the dissidents. Now, this removal of Bandi Sanjay as state president is seen as one of the weaknesses of the party.

The BJP lacks a strong organisational set-up in several constituencies. The lack of strong local leaders and candidates may also impact the BJP's performance in the state.

Moreover, the BJP seems to be dependent on central leadership for every decision by the local unit. Besides this, PTI reported that there's a "strong feeling among people that the BJP and BRS have a tacit understanding".

On top of all, there is no leader in the BJP's state unit who can match Chief Minister KCR's image. He is seen as the sole driving force behind Telangana's statehood achievement.

OPPORTUNITIES

The BJP is likley to fight elections by highlighting the Centre's achievement related to the Women's Reservation Bill and declaring September 17 as Telangana Liberation Day. The BRS-run Telangana government, however, declared the day as National Integration Day.

They BJP can also highlight the corruption allegations against the local leadership in the ruling BRS.

Besides this, KCR’s daughter Kavitha’s alleged role in the Delhi Excise Scam case is likely to be brought by the BJP while campaigning for the elections.

THREATS

After the Karnataka polls, its national rival, the Congress, has emerged as an alternative to the BRS in Telangana, PTI reported. This might result in anti-establishment votes consolidating towards Congress.

Meanwhile, the Congress’s campaign may centre around the BJP and BRS' alleged tacit understanding. The BJP needs to counter it effectively.

The BJP lacks strong leadership in all 119 constituencies. So the availability of effective leaders who can put up a strong fight may impede electioneering. Barring a few, there are hardly any crowd-pullers in the party.

First Published:Oct 12, 2023 3:15 PM IST