VIJAYAWADA, May 4: Andhra Pradesh Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Monday said the BJP's strong performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections signalled the end of what he described as a regime that fomented religious hatred, issued voter identity cards to illegal infiltrators, and deprived the poor of their rightful entitlements.

Reacting to the election results, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said the people of Bengal had blessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his commitment to regional development, basic infrastructure, and wealth creation for ordinary citizens. The BJP's victory, he said, was proof of the people's faith in the vision of Viksit Bharat.

The Minister said the NDA coalition was now poised to usher in successive terms in governance, breaking what he called the earlier assumption that a second consecutive victory was near impossible. He noted that in several States where the NDA was in power, the alliance had been consistently fulfilling its electoral promises.

Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said the government would identify, delete, and deport illegal infiltrators, invoking what he described as the BJP's three-point slogan of "Detect, Delete, Deport." He said the party would continue to consolidate its presence across States on the strength of this agenda.

Underlining the party's inclusive development philosophy, the Minister cited Prime Minister Modi's "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" commitment as evidence that no region or community would be left behind. He reiterated that the people's trust in the BJP's ideology remained firm and that the party's win in Assam further reinforced this confidence.

Andhra Pradesh BJP spokesperson Sheikh Baji demands Congress clarify its stand, accuses party leadership of double standards on women's empowerment

AMARAVATI, April 15: As the Women's Reservation Bill came up for discussion in Parliament on Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh BJP State spokesperson Sheikh Baji launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of indulging in what he termed "duplicitous politics" on the question of women's representation in legislative bodies.

Addressing mediapersons here, Mr. Baji demanded that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi spell out their party's unambiguous position on the Bill, asserting that a party which claims to champion women's rights cannot afford to remain equivocal on a matter of such constitutional significance.

The BJP spokesperson credited the Central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with demonstrating a sustained commitment to women's empowerment through concrete policy measures. He pointed to the elevation of Droupadi Murmu to the office of President — the highest constitutional post in the country — and the continuing tenure of Nirmala Sitharaman as Finance Minister as evidence of the ruling dispensation's confidence in women's leadership and capability.

Mr. Baji also cited the allocation of 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions as a structural reform that had laid the groundwork for inclusive rural governance. Greater participation of women at the grassroots level, he argued, had demonstrable effects on rural education, economic activity, and skill development — ultimately stemming migration and accelerating regional growth.

Invoking the government's guiding principle of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas," he underscored that no vision of national development could be complete without ensuring meaningful representation for women across all tiers of governance.

The spokesperson also drew attention to the expanding role of women in the armed forces, commending the service of women officers and invoking historical figures such as Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Rani Rudramadevi of the Kakatiya dynasty as enduring symbols of feminine resolve and leadership that continue to inspire generations.

Mr. Baji concluded by calling upon all political parties and civil society to extend wholehearted support to the Women's Reservation Bill, describing it as an instrument indispensable to the country's broader democratic and developmental aspirations.

PVN Madhav calls statements inflammatory, says they have no place in responsible politics

VIJAYAWADA: Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh president PVN Madhav on Sunday strongly condemned remarks made by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, asserting that statements designed to inflame communal tensions would not be accepted by any section of society.

Mr. Madhav said it was deeply objectionable for any leader to speak with the intent of targeting and destroying a particular community. He demanded that Mr. Kharge issue an immediate and unconditional public apology, and called upon the government to register a case and arrest him for making such remarks. Such statements, he said, had no place in political discourse.

The BJP State president said that at a time when the party was committed to the inclusive philosophy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', remarks aimed at driving a wedge between Hindu and Muslim communities deserved the strongest condemnation.

Mr. Madhav also took strong exception to the allegations levelled against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, describing it as an organisation that had consistently promoted national unity and patriotism. He recalled numerous instances where RSS volunteers had worked alongside the police and the armed forces during natural disasters, rendering relief and rehabilitation services. Targeting such an organisation to provoke public sentiment was unethical, he said, adding that Mr. Kharge's remarks represented a new low in political conduct.

Youth wing demands legal action, calls statements provocative and divisive

GUNTUR: Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) lodged a formal complaint at the district police office here on Saturday, condemning remarks made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge against the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during election campaigning in Assam.

The complaint was submitted to Special Branch DSP Alahari Srinivas under the directions of BJYM State president Sunil Reddy and on the instructions of BJP district president Cherukuri Tirupathi Rao. The delegation was led by BJYM district president Tunga Yashwanth and State Vice-President Kayithi Pradeep Reddy.

Addressing mediapersons on the occasion, Mr. Cherukuri Tirupathi Rao said that at a time when the BJP was working towards inclusive development under the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', remarks that sought to inflame tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities were deeply irresponsible. He demanded that the authorities take immediate action in the matter.

Mr. Tunga Yashwanth said it was deeply distressing that allegations were being levelled against the RSS, an organisation that he said had consistently worked to foster national unity and patriotism. He recalled the relief and rehabilitation work carried out by RSS volunteers during natural disasters, and stated that remarks aimed at sowing discord in society were entirely unacceptable. He urged the police to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible.

The complaint was also signed by BJYM State Social Media Co-Convener Srinivas, district leaders Kochherla Durga, Gana, Anand, Radhakrishna, and Swapna, OBC Morcha State Secretary Charaka Kumar Goud, BJP district General Secretary Bajrang Ramakrishna, district Vice-President Ravuri Lakshminarayana Sharma, and leaders Srinu Naik, Abraham, and Kamepalli Venkateswarlu, among others.

State president PVN Madhav traces party's 75-year ideological journey from Jana Sangh to global political force; reaffirms Viksit Bharat 2047 as BJP's defining goal

VIJAYAWADA : Invoking seven decades of sacrifice, struggle, and nation-building, Andhra Pradesh BJP state president PVN Madhav on Monday delivered a sweeping account of the Bharatiya Janata Party's ideological and political journey as the party marked its 47th Foundation Day with celebrations held across the state, with the principal function taking place here.

Extending greetings to party workers, leaders, and citizens at large, Mr. Madhav opened his address with an unusual reflection on the significance of the number 47, describing it in the spiritual tradition as a number associated with transformation and selfless endeavour. "Just as those who work without expectation of reward are guided by this number, the BJP has been a force for transformative change in the nation's history," he said.

From Jana Sangh to BJP: A 75-Year Ideological Continuum

Tracing the party's lineage, Mr. Madhav recalled that the Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded on October 21, 1951, and reconstituted as the Bharatiya Janata Party on April 6, 1980. He said the 75-year journey had been defined by a consistent commitment to national reconstruction, cultural preservation, and the assertion of India's civilisational identity.

He paid tribute to party founder Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, whose sacrifice during the 'Chalo Kashmir' movement for the territorial integrity of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, remained an indelible chapter in India's political history. He noted that leaders such as Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee had subsequently expanded the party's reach across the country, building it into a national force.

Emergency, Kargil and the Vajpayee Era

Mr. Madhav recalled that Jana Sangh workers had waged an unrelenting 19-month struggle against the Emergency imposed in 1975, with thousands imprisoned and others continuing the fight underground. "They gave the country a second freedom struggle," he said. He also highlighted the party's role during the Goa liberation movement and the wars of 1962 and 1965, when workers rendered service to the nation.

Turning to the Vajpayee era, Mr. Madhav said the BJP government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee had steered India towards strength through the Pokhran nuclear tests, victory in the Kargil conflict, and path-breaking diplomatic initiatives such as the Lahore bus yatra. "Vajpayee remains the gold standard of good governance," he said.

Modi Era: Security, Diplomacy and Development

Describing the BJP's return to power in 2014 under Narendra Modi as a defining moment, Mr. Madhav highlighted a series of landmark decisions including the abrogation of Article 370, the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the expansion of welfare schemes, rural development initiatives, and the Digital India programme.

On national security, he said India had demonstrated its resolve through surgical strikes and air strikes following the Uri and Pulwama attacks. He added that India's standing on the international stage had risen considerably, with the country maintaining balanced diplomatic relations with Iran, Israel, the United States, and Russia simultaneously.

Viksit Bharat 2047: The Defining Mission

Articulating the party's forward vision, Mr. Madhav said the BJP was committed to realising the goal of a fully developed India by 2047 — the centenary of independence — under the guiding principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas. He called upon every citizen to become a participant in this national endeavour.

On the party's organisational agenda in Andhra Pradesh, he said special programmes had been taken up to expand the BJP's presence to the village level, with the 'Mana Illu Mana Jenda' initiative encouraging every worker to hoist the party flag at their home and build awareness among the people. He reaffirmed the party's commitment to strengthening its role within the alliance government in keeping with the aspirations of the people.

Summing up the party's philosophy, Mr. Madhav declared: "Politics is not our profession — it is our mission." He called upon workers to draw inspiration from the sacrifices of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and dedicate themselves to nation-building and social upliftment.

The function was attended by state general secretary Matta Prasad, state secretary Boddu Nagalakshmi, state office in-charge Uppalapati Srinivasa Raju, Kisan Morcha president Chigurpati Kumar Swamy, SC Morcha president Panatala Suresh, Minority Morcha president Syed Basha, NTR district president Adduri Sriram, and other senior functionaries.