Morale of Congress cadre is high after 2023 win.
The BJP, riding high on its growing voter base in Telangana, now wants to win 12 of the total 17 seats and 35 percent vote share in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The party nearly doubled its vote share to 14 percent in the assembly elections on November 30 last year, winning eight seats. The BRS, which has ruled the state for nearly a decade since its emergence, is demoralized after the defeat, even as its founder and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter K Kavita was arrested on the eve of the election date announcement, adding insult to injury.
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis of Political Parties in Telangana.
Powers of Congress: – The Congress is in power after its victory in the assembly elections and its momentum is on the sidelines. – The implementation of the “guarantees” announced by the Revant Reddy government before the assembly elections created goodwill for the party. – Fame of CM Reddy. – Since he is in power, he has access to more resources to fight elections. – Recognized as a secular party and minorities are expected to vote for the party in assembly elections. – The BRS, which was in power for 10 years, has weakened after its defeat in the assembly elections. The contest is mainly seen between the Congress and the BJP in the parliamentary elections. – Strong cadres at the grassroots level. – The party has already announced candidates for some seats.
Disadvantages: – Construction of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya may convert Hindutva voters in favor of BJP. – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity will help BJP and Congress may not solve it completely. Opportunities: – Decline of BRS, and BJP lacks organizing power in some constituencies. – CM Revanth Reddy, who is also the PCC president, is considered a shrewd strategist. – Key issues like Ram Mandir and CAA may help the party win minority votes.
Threats: – Aggressive BJP campaign – Although BRS is low, it has announced that it will have an alliance with BSP for the Lok Sabha elections. In view of this, the Congress needs to ensure that the votes of Dalits and Other Backward Sections are captured in large numbers.
BJP Strength: – The consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya created a spiritual atmosphere among some sections that could turn into electoral gains. – Party’s clean image on corruption – Strong leadership at the center and their political acumen – Support from Sangh Parivar, RSS affiliates like Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal – Ability to polarize votes on ‘communal’ basis.
Disadvantages: – The party must make changes in some areas – For any decision, the local leadership must refer to the central leadership. – There is a strong feeling among people that BJP and BRS have a secret understanding. – The removal of Bandi Sanjay as state president is still seen as a weakness of the party.
Opportunities: – The party can claim some achievements, such as the Women’s Reservation Act and the official celebration of Hyderabad’s Independence Day on September 17, to its credit. -BJP may focus on the negative aspects of the Congress government’s “Six Guarantees”.
Threats: – After the assembly elections, the Congress recently formed the government in Telangana and emerged as an alternative to the BRS. So the positive sentiment for the Congress still remains – the Congress campaign may center around the alleged understanding between the BJP and the BRS. BJP should effectively counter this. Congress may use this as one of the key referendum issues. – Except for a few, there are very few people in the party locally.
