BJP wants to replicate its Assam success in Telangana: K Laxman,state BJP chief

HYDERABAD: BJP would like to replicate its success of Assam Assembly polls in Telangana by expanding its political space and emerging as an alternative to the ruling TRS, state party president K Laxman said today.

He also categorically dismissed talk in some quarters of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) coming closer to BJP and possibly joining the NDA government at the Centre.

"We want to take inspiration from Assam, where they ( Assam BJP) had only five MLAs and they could come to power. Even Haryana, BJP had only four MLAs and they could win 43 seats and come to power. So, why not in Telangana," Laxman, who recently took over as state BJP chief, told PTI.

BJP presently has five MLAs and an MLC in Telangana.

Alleging that the TRS was not focused on implementing its election promises, including 2BHK housing scheme for poor, filling up one lakh government jobs, three acres of cultivable land to Dalit families, KG to PG free education and farm loan waiver, he said the BJP would expose the ruling party on its alleged failures.

The main opposition Congress and the TDP have weakened in recent times due to defection of a number of MLAs to the TRS, he maintained.

Claiming that the future of TDP and Congress was "very bleak" in the state, he said BJP would like to occupy the opposition space on the back of TRS government's failure in implementing its promises and the performance of NDA government at Centre.

Congress and TDP have been traditionally dominant in Telangana.

Noting that the recent visits of BJP national president Amit Shah and Union ministers have boosted the morale of party activists, Laxman said the national party chief has declared that BJP would be an alternative in the 2019 elections.

Recalling that he has toured almost all the districts after becoming state party president, he said he would like to build the party "brick by brick".

Though BJP contested the 2014 elections in alliance with TDP, the saffron party would like to grow on its own as there are no elections till 2019, Laxman said.

TDP is a member of the NDA.

Asked about the criticism that the BJP has not grown beyond Hyderabad in Telangana, Laxman said though all its five MLAs are from the metropolis, they are experienced and aware of rural issues.

Dismissing the talks of TRS coming closer to BJP and joining the NDA government at the Centre, Laxman said, "There is no such (possibility), even national (leadership) made it very clear. No question of TRS joining BJP or vice versa. It is only a creation by some sections. We want to become a viable alternative to TRS in Telangana."

"Now, TRS, they are very close to Majlis (MIM)," he added.