Kanna shunted out, Soma Veeraju is new AP BJP president

In a significant development, the central BJP leadership has removed Kanna Laxminarayana as Andhra Pradesh BJP president. A decision to this effect was taken by central BJP president J P Nadda.

In an attempt to strengthen the party base in Andhra Pradesh, the central BJP has replaced Kanna Laximnarayana with BJP MLC Somu Veerraju. Veerraju is known to be very close to Ravindra Raju, AP’s organizing secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Ravindra Raju had on several occasions reportedly recommended Veerraju’s name as state BJP president. Veerraju hails from a farmer’s family living in East Godavari district. He was Andhra Pradesh president and secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, general secretary and vice-president of the state unit.

Soma Veeraraju had been eyeing the BJP state chief post since the last two years. As a matter of fact, he was miffed with the party when Kanna was made the president and a few of his followers even quit the party. With the elevation of Veerraju as state BJP president, the saffron party will try to aggressively make inroads into Andhra Pradesh. The BJP would be looking to gain a strong foothold in Andhra Pradesh in the next elections. The saffron party expected to go aggressive on expansion and strengthening of the party in the state. Even a few seats could be crucial for the party. Somu Veeraju has all the ammunition required to lead the party in the state as he is known to be quite aggressive.

Several party leaders were vying for the party leadership in the state, including Manikyala Rao who enjoys Ram Madhav’s support. There were also reports that former Union Minister Purandhareswari, NTR’s illustrious daughter, was pitted to be the party’s president. In the past, both Purandeswari and Lakshminarayana served as ministers in the Congress government both at the Centre and in the state respectively.

Laxminarayana’s removal as party president comes in the wake of allegations levelled by Rajya Sabha MP Vijaysai Reddy that the BJP leader sold himself to TDP for Rs 20 crore and BJP leader Y S Chowdary was the mediator. On his part, Kanna threatened to file a defamation case against Vijayasai Reddy. While Vijaysai Reddy had on several occasions launched a broadside against Kanna, the central BJP leadership had failed to rally around Kanna and remained silent on the issue for reasons best known to the saffron party.

Kanna was made the BJP president in 2018 succeeding Kapu leader Haribabu. Kanna was picked as the BJP president in 2018 mainly because he belongs to the strong Kapu community with an eye to win the Kapu votes in the state .