VIJAYAWADA, May 5: Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav on Tuesday described the party's victories in three of the five States that went to the polls as historic, and said the results reflected the growing trust of the electorate in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He was addressing a press conference at the party's State office in Vijayawada.

Mr. Madhav said Mr. Modi had effectively articulated people's issues during the election campaign, and that voters in West Bengal had rewarded the BJP with a decisive mandate. The party's return to power in Assam and its success in Puducherry, he added, further underscored the expanding reach of the NDA.

Bengal win rooted in history and public discontent

Contextualising the West Bengal result within a broader historical frame, Mr. Madhav said the victory was made possible by the sacrifices of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, and that winning in the land of luminaries such as Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Swami Vivekananda, and Subhas Chandra Bose lent the achievement special significance.

He was sharply critical of the preceding years of Communist and Trinamool Congress rule in the State, alleging that both had presided over a rise in lawlessness. He further alleged that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh had been encouraged and cultivated as a vote bank by the ruling dispensation. It was public awareness of and anger against these trends, he argued, that had driven high voter turnout and ultimately brought the BJP to power.

Assam hat-trick and Kerala foothold

On Assam, Mr. Madhav said the BJP had achieved a hat-trick by strengthening the spirit of nationalism in the State. He also highlighted the party's performance in Kerala, where it won three seats and entered the State Assembly for the first time, describing it as a significant indicator of the party's geographic expansion.

Commenting on Tamil Nadu, he said the victory of actor-politician Vijay's party over the DMK was a signal of change in the State.

Senior party functionaries including Kapu Ramachandra Reddy, Saligrama Lakshmi Prasanna, Sheikh Baji, Rongala Gopi Srinivas, Uppalapati Srinivas Raju, Adduri Sriram, Syed Basha, Surendra Reddy, and Reddy Pavani were present at the press conference.

VIJAYAWADA, May 5: The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday held a victory rally in Vijayawada to celebrate the party's electoral successes in three States, with State president P.V.N. Madhav leading the procession from the Sujana Chowdary office at Bhavani Puram. Party leaders and workers turned out in large numbers for the celebratory event.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Madhav said the results reflected the trust that voters across the three States had reposed in the BJP. He singled out West Bengal as particularly significant, asserting that the people of the State had decisively ended the Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee. The Bengal verdict, he said, had been received with jubilation across the country.

A journey from one seat to a historic majority

Recalling the party's ideological lineage, Mr. Madhav noted that the Jana Sangh had begun its journey in West Bengal — the birthplace of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee — with just a single seat, and that the BJP's landmark victory in the State today represented a remarkable political transformation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added, NDA governments were now in power in nearly 20 States, which he described as a testament to the country's development trajectory.

Wins across States

Mr. Madhav also highlighted the party's strong performance in Assam under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, as well as its gains in Puducherry. He pointed to the party's showing in constituencies with a Muslim population of around 60 per cent — where the BJP had won 40 of 63 seats — as evidence that the notion of minorities being averse to the party was a misconception. He also said the BJP welcomed the victory of actor-politician Vijay in Tamil Nadu.

The State president attributed the electoral successes to the organisational efforts of senior leaders such as Amit Shah and Sunil Bansal, as well as the sacrifices of party workers at the grassroots level.

Among those present at the event were NTR District president Adduri Sriram, MLA office in-charge Sridhar, BJP State office in-charge Uppalapati Srinivas Raju, State spokesperson Sheikh Baji, Minority Morcha State president Syed Basha, and OBC Morcha State president Rongala Gopi Srinivas.

AMARAVATI, May 5: BJP Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav on Monday welcomed the Central Government's decision to establish a new railway zone — the South Coast Railway — describing it as a historic administrative reform that would significantly benefit the State.

Notified through an official gazette under the Railways Act, 1989, the new zone is set to come into effect from June 1, 2026. The decision to locate its headquarters in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Madhav said, accorded special prominence to Andhra Pradesh and laid the groundwork for the port city to emerge as a major railway hub.

Restructured from existing zones

The South Coast Railway will be carved out of select divisions of the existing East Coast Railway and South Central Railway zones. The Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions, presently under South Central Railway, will be merged into the new zone. Simultaneously, the Waltair Division under East Coast Railway will be bifurcated — one portion rechristened as the Visakhapatnam Division and absorbed into the South Coast Railway, while the remaining portion will continue under East Coast Railway as the newly designated Rayagada Division.

Mr. Madhav noted that the Rayagada Division would cover routes including Koraput–Singapore Road, Kottavalasa–Kirandul, Kuneru–Theruvali, and Gunupur–Paralakhemundi. The Visakhapatnam Division, on the other hand, would extend from Ichhapuram to Duvvada, along with associated branch lines, substantially expanding rail connectivity in the region.

Operational clarity and coordination

The transfer of the Palasa–Ichhapuram section, currently under the Khurda Road Division, to the Visakhapatnam Division was also cited as a step that would improve operational coordination. The realignment of boundaries among the Guntakal, Guntur, Vijayawada, and Secunderabad divisions would, he added, bring greater administrative clarity to railway operations across the region.

Mr. Madhav expressed confidence that the reorganisation would enhance the efficiency, speed, and quality of rail services, and open up new avenues of development for Andhra Pradesh.

Conveying his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the decision, Mr. Madhav said it represented a significant milestone in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the State.

Amaravati, April 20: The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released ₹1,805 crore towards wage payments for VB-JI RAM JI  Employment Guarantee Scheme  workers in Andhra Pradesh for the financial year 2025-26, drawing appreciation from the State BJP unit.

Andhra Pradesh BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav welcomed the release of funds and extended his gratitude to the Union government for the timely disbursement. He said the State government would distribute the funds to the beneficiaries through the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development departments.

Mr. Madhav said the amounts would be credited directly to the bank accounts of the wage earners based on the upload of wage Fund Transfer Orders (FTOs), and assured that all workers who had completed their employment would receive their full wages in their accounts shortly.

Reiterating the BJP-led NDA coalition's commitment to the welfare of marginalised and weaker sections, Mr. Madhav said both the Union and State governments accorded the highest priority to social security and inclusive development. He expressed confidence that the coordinated efforts of the Central and State governments would lead to a sustained improvement in the living standards of rural workers in Andhra Pradesh.

Visakhapatnam, April 20: Andhra Pradesh BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, accompanied by his family, visited the ancient hill shrine of Sri Sri Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Simhachalam on Monday to offer special prayers on the occasion of the temple's annual Chandanotsavam.

On his arrival at the temple, Madhav was accorded a formal welcome by the temple authorities, who made special arrangements for his darshan.

Performing the special prayers, Mr. Madhav sought the blessings of the presiding deity for the welfare, peace and prosperity of the people of Andhra Pradesh. He expressed the hope that the grace of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy would always remain upon the people, and that every household in the State be blessed with happiness, good health and abundance.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Madhav described the Chandanotsavam as a festival that stands as a symbol of devotion and faith. He extended his greetings to the people of the State on the auspicious occasion of the Chandanotsavam of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.

A large number of BJP leaders, party workers and devotees were present on the occasion.

Vijayawada, April 20: The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party and its allies for opposing the Women's Reservation Bill, announcing a series of NDA protest programmes across the State later this month.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office in Vijayawada, party State general secretary Nagotu Ramesh Naidu accused Congress and its allies — the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Samajwadi Party — of collectively blocking legislation that sought to ensure equal political representation for women. "They are celebrating this obstruction as though it were a great victory," he said.

Mr. Naidu recalled that the Congress-led UPA government had, during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi, enacted special legislation in the Shah Bano case overriding a Supreme Court ruling. He further noted that while Sonia Gandhi had successfully steered the Women's Reservation Bill through the Rajya Sabha, the party failed to bring it to a vote in the Lok Sabha. He accused the Congress of using Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to play what he termed a "Shikandi role" in obstructing the bill.

Asserting that delimitation must not be carried out on the basis of population ratios alone, Mr. Naidu said the BJP remained committed to reintroducing the Women's Reservation Bill and securing its passage. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards making women equal partners in the nation's development, and no obstacle will deter that goal," he said.

The party announced a series of protest events across Andhra Pradesh. On April 24, a demonstration will be held in Vijayawada with BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, Minister Kandula Durgesh and TDP State president Palla Srinivasarao as chief guests. A parallel protest will be organised in Rajamahendravari under the leadership of MP Daggubati Purandeswari on the same day.

On April 25, Union Minister of State Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma will participate in protests at Tirupati, while a separate programme is scheduled in Kurnool.

BJP NTR District president Adduri Sriram was also present at the press conference.

VIJAYAWADA, April 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party observed the 135th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at its State headquarters here on Tuesday, with senior party leaders garlanding a portrait of the jurist-statesman and offering floral tributes in his memory.

Addressing the gathering, BJP SC Morcha State president Pantala Suresh said that the party, under State president P.V.N. Madhav, was organising a series of service programmes across Andhra Pradesh to mark the occasion. He emphasised that Ambedkar was not a leader confined to any caste, religion, or region, but a universal leader whose ideology transcended all boundaries. The BJP, he said, would remain at the forefront of carrying that message to the people.

Mr. Suresh said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government had been working in consonance with Ambedkar's ideals, ensuring dignity and opportunity for the most marginalised sections of society. He invoked the principle of Antyodaya — welfare reaching the last person in the social order — as the defining spirit of the Modi government's approach to governance. In this context, he described the Prime Minister as a "nava yuga Ambedkar" — an Ambedkar for the new age.

He added that in Andhra Pradesh, the NDA government under Mr. Madhav's leadership had drawn up a specific action plan for the development of weaker and disadvantaged communities, and that the BJP would always remain committed to the pursuit of social justice.

Among those present were BJP State general secretary Boddu Nagalakshmi, District president Adduri Sriram, Minority Morcha State president Syed Basha, State spokesperson Sheikh Baji, and party leaders Padmaja, Kambhampati Madhavi, Kolapalli Ganesh, Paila Suresh, and Muvvala Venkata Subbayya.

VISAKHAPATNAM, April 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party marked the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the city on Monday with a formal commemoration at Daaba Gardens, where BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav garlanded a portrait of the Constitution's chief architect and offered floral tributes.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, Mr. Madhav described Ambedkar as a towering figure who breathed life into the ideal of social equality. "The path he showed remains a guiding light for the nation," he said, adding that Ambedkar's vision of social justice and equal rights would continue to serve as an enduring source of inspiration for generations to come.

The BJP State president called upon every citizen to imbibe Ambedkar's principles in their daily lives and work actively towards the building of an egalitarian society. He reiterated that the BJP remained firmly committed to realising the ideals that Ambedkar had espoused.

Senior party functionaries and workers were present at the event.

Amaravati, April 13: BJP State President P.V.N. Madhav on Monday expressed serious concern over the state of welfare hostels across Andhra Pradesh and urged the State government to take immediate corrective measures, calling for sweeping reforms to be undertaken during the summer vacation period.

Mr. Madhav made the remarks following a series of visits to SC, ST, and BC student welfare hostels as part of the party's ongoing "Janata Varadhi" outreach programme, during which he inspected both pre-matric and post-matric hostels and held detailed discussions with students, wardens, and staff. Based on complaints received through the programme, BJP district presidents submitted formal representations to collectorate offices across the State.

Acknowledging certain positive steps taken by the government, the BJP State president commended the acceleration in the clearance of diet bill payments, the release of cosmetic allowances, and a perceptible improvement in food quality, noting that these measures had gone some way toward restoring student confidence.

However, Mr. Madhav said several serious concerns persisted. He pointed to dilapidated buildings, acute shortage of drinking water, poor sanitation, inadequate nutrition, lack of medical facilities, and absence of academic support as problems that continued to afflict hostels across the State. Particularly troubling, he added, was the atmosphere of fear that prevailed in certain hostels, where students were reluctant to voice their grievances.

A reform agenda for the summer

Urging the government to treat the summer recess as an opportunity for comprehensive institutional reform, Mr. Madhav put forward a detailed set of recommendations. These included conducting parent-teacher meetings at hostel level, establishing a formal grievance redressal system for students, carrying out infrastructure audits, rebuilding structurally unsafe buildings, revising diet charges upward, installing RO water purification plants, setting up dedicated sanitation monitoring teams, and appointing tutors along with providing digital learning facilities.

On the question of safety and transparency, he called for the installation of CCTV cameras in all hostels, the appointment of women wardens exclusively for girls' hostels, the routing of all bill payments through the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism to ensure accountability, and the creation of a toll-free helpline for student complaints. He also recommended monthly medical check-ups and regular open meetings between hostel authorities and students.

More than just accommodation

Striking a broader note, Mr. Madhav said welfare hostels were not merely residential facilities but institutions that shaped the futures of children from marginalised communities. "It is the government's responsibility to ensure that every student feels a sense of pride in their hostel," he said.

He urged the administration to designate this summer as a "season of reforms" and to take prompt action that would rebuild student trust in government institutions.

Vijayawada, April 3: BJP Andhra Pradesh state president P.V.N. Madhav on Friday said that the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj remains an enduring source of inspiration for every Indian, and that his ideals continue to hold relevance in contemporary times.

Speaking at a programme organised in Satyanarayanapuram, Vijayawada, to mark the death anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj, Mr. Madhav said the Maratha warrior-king had carved a unique place in history by resisting the Mughal empire and establishing the Hindavi Swarajya. He noted that inspired by his mother Jijiyabai, Shivaji had built numerous forts and consolidated his kingdom, and that the coronation at Raigad had heralded a wider awakening of Hindu consciousness. He added that the people of his era had regarded Shivaji as a divine figure.

Tracing Shivaji's connections with the Andhra region, Mr. Madhav said historical records suggest that the Maratha king's campaigns had extended as far as Visakhapatnam, and that he had undertaken penance at Srisailam.

Turning to the present, Mr. Madhav called upon the gathering to remain vigilant against forces attempting to divide the nation, and to cultivate a deeper respect for one's own dharma. He referred to the Central government's progress in suppressing Left-wing extremism, describing it as a significant step in safeguarding national security.

Against the backdrop of conflicts in various parts of the world, Mr. Madhav said India's philosophy of Sarva Dharma Samabhavana — equal respect for all faiths — positioned the country as a moral guide for the world and underlined its credentials as a Vishwaguru. He stressed the need to carry Shivaji's ideals to every section of society.

The programme was attended by BJP state general secretary Sannareddy Dayakar Reddy, SC Morcha state president Panatala Suresh, RSS representative Krishna Nagalingam Shivaji, and others.

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.