RAJAHMUNDRY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 (JOURNALIST FILE): The Bharatiya Janata Party is stepping up its grassroots activities across Andhra Pradesh as it prepares for the next round of local-body elections, with party leaders saying the organisation will focus on public outreach, welfare programmes and closer coordination with its coalition partners.
BJP national vice president and Rajahmundry MP Daggubati Purandeswari and state president PVN Madhav made the remarks Monday at a blood donation camp organised by the BJP Yuva Morcha in Rajahmundry as part of programmes marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
The leaders said the “Seva Sankalpa Abhiyan” was being conducted across Andhra Pradesh from Sept. 17 to Oct. 17. Street plays, awareness programmes and other public activities are being organised to explain government welfare and development schemes to people, they said.
Purandeswari and Madhav said the campaign was intended to combine social-service activities with greater public awareness about government initiatives. The blood donation programme in Rajahmundry was attended by MLA Ramakrishna Reddy, party leaders and Yuva Morcha workers.
BJP focuses on local elections
Madhav said the BJP would coordinate with the Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena Party in the forthcoming local-body elections. Discussions were continuing at the parliamentary level, while meetings with party workers were being conducted to strengthen the organisation on the ground, he said.
The BJP state president said the party would seek to expand its organisational presence to every panchayat and municipality. He also said party workers would be given greater importance while deciding candidates and allocating seats.
Madhav described the coalition government's approach as an effort to achieve “triple-engine growth” through coordination between the Centre, state and local administrations.
He also alleged that candidates had faced intimidation and other difficulties during elections under the previous government. Madhav said the coalition government would work toward conducting the forthcoming elections in a transparent manner. The allegations are part of the BJP's political criticism of the previous administration.
The BJP state president also raised the controversy surrounding the quality of ghee used in the preparation of Tirumala laddu prasadam.
Madhav demanded that the YSR Congress Party respond to the allegations and said the BJP would continue to press the issue in the interest of preserving the sanctity of the Tirumala prasadam.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has previously discussed the findings of the Special Investigation Team investigation into alleged adulteration of ghee supplied for laddu preparation. The issue has been the subject of continuing political and legal debate.
Madhav further alleged irregularities in liquor-related activities under the previous government and said ongoing investigations could reveal additional information. He urged BJP workers to take their political arguments to the public and explain the party's position.
Digital economy and BRICS
Turning to the national economy, Madhav highlighted the growth of digital payments and the expansion of the Unified Payments Interface, citing it as an important development in India's digital financial infrastructure.
He also referred to India's participation in BRICS and discussions involving economic, political, security and technological cooperation.
Madhav cited the government's latest GDP figures while arguing that India's economy was continuing to expand. He criticised the Congress for what he described as its response to the country's economic performance.
On food prices, he attributed higher sugar prices to increased production costs and said onion prices had risen following a decline in output. Weather-related challenges, he said, were adding pressure to the agricultural sector.
The BJP leadership said the party would continue its outreach to different sections of society while expanding its organisational network across Andhra Pradesh in preparation for the upcoming electoral cycle.
