Some problem or the other is troubling BJP in Telugu States ever since PM Modi and Amit Shah tried to put the party in the forefront of electoral battles in Telangana and AP.

For quite sometime, rumours are rife that Swamy Paripoornananda of Sreepeetham will lead BJP campaign in Telangana polls and that his name will be announced as BJP’s chief ministerial candidate to polarise Hindu vote bank in their favour. There is also speculation that the Swamiji will contest from Jubilee Hills assembly segment where Andhra settlers and high society people are present in considerable numbers.

For reasons not known, BJP has not announced any candidate for Jubilee Hills ticket in the recently released list of party contestants. The immediate reason for this is stated to be objections from majority BJP leaders in the State, who don’t want the reins of the party Telangana unit to be placed in the hands of the Swamiji. They want someone from among the long-standing leaders to stay on top in the state and the same has been communicated to Delhi leadership.

Sources say that there are many more serious issues going against the Swamiji. Some leaders have already pointed out that Paripoorna hails from Andhra because of which his entry into Telangana politics will never be acceptable by people and it will cause serious harm to BJP’s interests.

There is also another opinion that leaders like KCR and MIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi will not leave any opportunity and they will raise Telangana sentiment against Paripoorna. Such a development will not only hurt the Swamiji’s winning chances but also the prospects of all other BJP candidates in the polls.

Paripoorna was born in Nellore city in AP and his religious appeal may not be able to help him overcome strong regional sentiment. He has already entered political realm by joining BJP in the presence of Amith Shah recently and politicians don’t spare anybody while making criticism.

TRS has already started whipping up Telangana sentiment to get political advantage. Will BJP take such a huge risk in favour of Swamiji at this juncture? It is indeed a nail-biting suspense for next few days.

Amita Shah, BJP’s National President, is stated to have decided to choose a popular Swamiji to lead the party’s campaign in Telangana elections. For a long time now, the party wants to bring in a spiritual leader with social activism to strengthen itself in South India like how it did by taking services of Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh.

Against this background, Swami Paripoornananda of Sri Peetham fame has come as an immediate choice before BJP leadership considering his widespread connections and his active involvement in socio-political discourses in Southern States. The Hindu monk has also become popular in Telangana after his banishment from Hyderabad by KCR government following his exchange of inflammatory statements with film critic and dalit activist Kathi Mahesh.

Kathi Mahesh was also banned from Telangana capital for his statements against Lord Rama and perpetuation of casteism in Hindu society that were considered to have hurt the sentiments of Hindus leading to social tensions. Paripoornananda threatened to take out a rally to Kathi’s home, which raised temperatures in Hyderabad at that time.

Now, Paripoornananda is invited to meet Amit Shah in Delhi for a second time in past two months. There are already rumours and wild speculation that the Swamiji is a strong choice for BJP to go ahead with its plan to polarise voters along religious lines and draw greater support to the BJP in coming days. Amit Shah is expected to announce Paripoornanda soon as CM candidate for Telangana polls.

BJP’s strategy may change campaign direction altogether in December election.