It is an open secret that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) never hesitates to induct leaders into its fold for the sake of political expansion. The party has always welcomed leaders who clashed with their own parties, or even those who had differences with their family members in politics. This has been a proven BJP strategy across the country.
Leaders facing corruption allegations have also not been exceptions to this practice. Now, the question being asked in political circles is whether BJP will apply the same strategy in the case of Kalvakuntla Kavitha – or not.
BJP’s strategy has been to attract leaders who are dissatisfied with their party’s policies, feel sidelined, or have differences with their own family members, thereby strengthening itself locally. Even if they carry corruption taints, the party high command is ready to induct leaders who are financially strong, have caste influence, or can wield some degree of political impact. In certain cases, even if they are not directly inducted, BJP openly secures their support.
From 2014 till now, the party has inducted several such leaders at various stages—Himanta Biswa Sarma, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Captain Amarinder Singh, Anil Antony, Hardik Patel, C.R. Kesavan, Sunil Jakhar among others. Many of these leaders had corruption allegations against them, but BJP never backed away from including them.
Once they entered the party, the cases against them hardly remained a talking point. This has led opposition parties to repeatedly criticize BJP, branding it as the “Washing Powder Nirma party,” where corruption-tainted leaders suddenly appear spotless after joining the saffron fold.
BJP’s Strategy in Telangana
Telangana too has not been an exception to BJP’s “Operation Akarsh.” Many BRS leaders who fell out with KCR have already been drawn towards the BJP. Etela Rajender, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Godam Nagesh, Sitaram Nayak, Shanampudi Saidi Reddy, Guvvala Balaraju, Rathod Bapurao, Potuganti Ramulu, Jalagam Venkat Rao, BB Patil and several others have joined BJP. Some won as MPs, some contested in the recent assembly elections, and others joined the party only recently.
Thus, BJP has already absorbed a number of BRS leaders who had differences with KCR. Now the big question is – will the same formula be applied to Kalvakuntla Kavitha? Will BJP induct her too? This speculation has become a point of curiosity in political circles.
On the other hand, BJP Telangana state president Ranchander Rao’s recent statement that “corrupt leaders will not be allowed to enter BJP, whether it is Kavitha or anyone else,” seems to contradict the party’s past record.
Were leaders like Himanta Biswa Sarma, Ashok Chavan, Praful Patel, Ajit Pawar, Mukul Roy, Sujana Chowdary, and C.M. Ramesh taken into BJP without corruption allegations? Or did BJP not at least secure their support from outside? These questions are being raised now. In the same context, political analysts believe that if Kavitha, who has resigned from BRS, is also brought into BJP, it should not come as a surprise.