Vijayawada, April 3: BJP Andhra Pradesh state president P.V.N. Madhav on Friday called for greater government support and welfare measures for traditional dappu percussion artists, emphasising that the art form is a vital symbol of the state's cultural heritage.

Speaking at a round table conference of dappu artists' associations organised by the BJP SC Morcha in Vijayawada, Mr. Madhav said it was imperative to protect the tradition while ensuring sustainable livelihood opportunities for its practitioners. He announced that the party would soon organise a large-scale programme bringing together dappu artists from across the state.

The BJP leader said efforts would be made to extend pension benefits to artists who are yet to receive them, and to increase the pension amount for those already enrolled. He also spoke of steps to restore the dandora announcement posts within the panchayat system and to create avenues for dappu artists in temple events and government publicity programmes. He stressed the need to provide instruments to artists through schemes such as Aadarana.

Artists who participated in the meeting raised the shortage of leather used in making dappu drums as a pressing concern, urging that raw materials be made available through the leather industry. They appealed for both social recognition and financial security for a vocation passed down through generations.

BJP SC Morcha state president Panatala Suresh reaffirmed the party's commitment to resolving the problems faced by dappu artists and improving their living standards. Sanskrit Telugu Academy chairman R.D. Wilson said the artists play a crucial role in the country's cultural fabric, noting that they have historically served as carriers of public information through community announcements.

The meeting was also attended by Bulla Rajarao, president of the Charmakara Sangham, Paragonda Joshi, state president of APTKS, and Minority Morcha state president Syed Basha, among others.

Guntur, April 2, 2026: The Scheduled Caste Morcha of the Bharatiya Janata Party elected its new district executive committee for Guntur at a meeting held at the party's district office on Thursday, with the exercise marking a fresh organisational push by the BJP to consolidate its outreach among Dalit communities ahead of future electoral contests.

BJP Guntur District President Cherukuru Tirupati Rao attended the event as chief guest, while National Spices Board member and senior BJP leader Kothuru Venkata Subba Rao also addressed the gathering.

New Office-Bearers

Bulla Rajarao was announced as District Vice President of the SC Morcha, along with Potarlanka Krupamani and Kolikipudi Malleswarao, who were appointed to the same position. Mahalakshmayya and Shrungarapati Venkataratnam were elected as Secretaries, while Rayapudi Yesubab and Gattupalli Abraham were named District General Secretaries. Pilli Nageswararao was designated as the official spokesperson, and Pattipati Gopi was elected as Treasurer.

Dr. Dara Ambedkar, District President of the SC Morcha, presided over the proceedings.

Leadership's Call to Action

Addressing the gathering, District President Cherukuru Tirupati Rao urged the newly elected office-bearers to work actively towards strengthening the party at the grassroots by ensuring that the Central Government's welfare schemes reached Scheduled Caste communities comprehensively and effectively. He called upon the Morcha to function as a bridge between the government's programmes and the intended beneficiaries.

Senior leader Kothuru Venkata Subba Rao, in his address, highlighted the range of welfare initiatives being implemented by the Central Government for the upliftment of Scheduled Caste communities. He reaffirmed the party's ideological commitment to the principle of Antyodaya — prioritising the welfare of the last person in the social order — and said the BJP remained firmly dedicated to the development of every SC family in the country.

Organisational Presence

The event was attended by a cross-section of party functionaries, including SC Morcha Incharge Enumula Nageswararao, Coastal Andhra Zonal Incharge Mekala Lakshman, District Convener Bhimineni Chandrasekhar, Charaka Kumar Goud, and District General Secretaries Bajrang Ramakrishna and Desa Satyanarayana, among others.

The election of the new committee is seen as part of the BJP's broader effort to strengthen its organisational base among Scheduled Caste voters in Guntur district, a constituency where the party has been working to expand its footprint in recent years.