The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership appears to be going out of its way to please its alliance partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), acting strategically ahead of upcoming assembly elections in several states.
As part of these efforts, the BJP central leadership is learned to have extended another offer to its ally, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
According to sources, the TDP has reportedly been assured another Governor post, along with opportunities in key central appointments.
The TDP already secured two ministerial berths in the Union Cabinet, and recently, senior leader Ashok Gajapathi Raju was appointed Governor of Goa. Now, speculation is rife that the party will soon have a second Governor position to fill.
The discussion within the TDP now revolves around who party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu will nominate for this new post.
Several factors worked in favor of Raju’s appointment — he has been with the party since its inception, enjoys widespread respect, is controversy-free, and his group had no representation in the current Cabinet.
This time, however, talk is that the Governor post may be given to someone from the BC or SC communities.
Senior leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu is seen as a strong contender, though reports suggest he may instead be accommodated in the Rajya Sabha. As a result, speculation has grown that the Governor post could go to a BC leader from Rayalaseema.
One prominent name making the rounds is K E Krishnamurthy. Once a close associate of Naidu in the Congress before joining the TDP, Krishnamurthy has held several key positions in the party.
He served as Deputy Chief Minister between 2014 and 2019. After his son was given the Pattikonda MLA ticket in the 2024 elections — and won — Krishnamurthy has not been politically active. Sources say Naidu is seriously considering him for the post.
In addition, TDP leaders from both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are expected to be accommodated in certain national-level appointments. The Centre is said to have asked the TDP to provide a list of names for consideration.
With talk of a possible Union Cabinet expansion also in the air, the question of who among the TDP will secure another ministerial berth or a Governor’s post has become a subject of keen interest among NDA allies in Andhra Pradesh.