The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) actively contributed to the creation of a separate Telangana state, recognizing the necessity and garnering support from both its central leadership and regional leaders in Andhra-Rayalaseema.
The BJP advocated for a referendum on Telangana and worked to strengthen support at the national level among other parties.
During the 1997 parliamentary election campaign, then BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee publicly supported the formation of a separate Telangana state.
At a 1997 meeting in Kakinada, the BJP introduced the “One Vote – Two States” slogan, promoting the formation of smaller states, an initiative later known as the “Kakinada Resolution.”
Following the 1999 parliamentary elections, the BJP-led NDA government planned to implement the Kakinada Resolution, preparing for the formation of new states including Telangana, although this was initially opposed by the TDP, led by Chandra Babu Naidu.
Despite TDP’s opposition, the NDA government successfully formed the states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand in 2000, but not Telangana.
Disappointed by the delay in forming Telangana, BJP minister Ale Narendra left the party in mid-2001 and established the “Telangana Sadhana Samithi,” which he later merged with the TRS in August 2002.
Between 1998 and 2000, the BJP and the All India Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), led by Mechineni Kishan Rao and Ale Narendra, campaigned for the rights to Godavari water for Telangana, including organizing a Padayatra from Bellampalli to Hyderabad.
In a 2008 campaign meeting, L.K. Advani promised that a BJP government would establish Telangana within 100 days of taking office.
The BJP reiterated its support for Telangana during an all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Rosaiah on December 7, 2009.
The BJP also participated in the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (TJAC), formed on December 24, 2009, to advocate for the separate state and played a significant role in pushing the UPA government for Telangana’s formation in Parliament.Top of Form
The BJP representatives who attended the all-party meeting organized by the Central Government on January 5, 2010, were Bandaru Dattatreya from Telangana and Hari Babu from Andhra.
At this meeting, the BJP reiterated its support for the formation of a separate Telangana state.
On July 31, 2010, BJP MLA Yendala Laxminarayana resigned in protest against the delays in forming the Telangana State, citing injustice.
Prominent BJP leaders such as L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj, and Rajnath Singh actively engaged in the Telangana movement, organizing and participating in multiple meetings across Hyderabad to garner support.
BJP State President G. Kishan Reddy initiated the “BJP Poru Telangana Yatra” on January 19, 2012, in Mahbubnagar district to advocate for a separate Telangana.
This yatra, led by Kishan Reddy, spanned 22 days, covering 88 constituencies and concluded on February 9, 2012, at Bhadrachalam, demonstrating the party’s commitment to the Telangana cause.
Kishan Reddy “Telangana Poru Deeksha” (3rd to 5th September, 2012):
From September 3rd to 5th, 2012, Kishan Reddy led the “Telangana Poru Deeksha” protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to advocate for the creation of Telangana.
The protest was attended by Prakash Javadekar and TJAC Chairman Prof. Kodandaram.
On the final day of the protest, approximately 2000 BJP activists marched towards the Prime Minister’s residence to press for Telangana statehood but were met with police lathi charge en route.
In support of the Telangana bill, BJP State President G. Kishan Reddy staged a three-day hunger strike at A.P. Bhavan in Delhi in February 2014, demonstrating his commitment to the cause despite opposition from Seemandhra leaders
Dattatreya “Alai-Balai”:
To promote awareness of the need for a Telangana State, BJP leaders implemented innovative programs.
As part of these efforts, BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya hosts the “Alai-Balai” event during the Dasara festival, which celebrates and highlights Telangana culture.
Merging of Telangana Nagara Samithi with BJP:
In August 2011, Nagam Janardhan Reddy left the TDP and established the “Telangana Nagara Samithi.” This party merged with the BJP on June 3, 2013, in an event attended by Rajnath Singh.
On February 18, 2014, during the Lok Sabha voting on the State Reorganization bill, BJP Lok Sabha leader Sushma Swaraj expressed unequivocal support for the bill on behalf of her party.
On February 20, 2014, when the State Reorganization bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, BJP floor leader Arun Jaitley also fully endorsed the bill, which contributed to its passage.
Following the bill’s passage in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj remarked that the people of Telangana should remember her as “Chinna Amma of Telangana,” paralleling Sonia Gandhi’s significant role in the state’s formation.Bottom of Form
