BJP secures TDP backing for Rajya Sabha bypoll from Andhra Pradesh: Smriti Irani, Annamalai among likely contenders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu. (File Photo: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party is learnt to have secured the backing of the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, its key ally in Andhra Pradesh, for the bye-elections to one Rajya Sabha seat scheduled to be held on May 9.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister is scheduled to call on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the capital later today where the issue is likely to be among those on agenda for discussions.

The by-poll was necessitated after YSRCP’s Vijayasai Reddy announced his resignation as a Rajya Sabha member and quit active politics in January this ear, well ahead of the completion of his term in June 2028.

The vacancies created by the resignation of two Rajya Sabha MPs from the YSRCP previously were claimed by the TDP which has a clear majority in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The BJP is thus expected to stake claim to the third seat, vacated by Vijaysai, which goes to polls on May 9.

Notably, among the names being considered for candidature by the BJP include former Union minister Smriti Irani and former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai, reports The Indian Express.

While Smriti Irani, former Lok Sabha MP from Amethi, lost the election to Congress' Kishori Lal Sharma by over 1.6 lakh votes, she is still seen as an influential leader who defeated then Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to claim the Amethi seat which has been seen as a Gandhi family pocketborough.

Annamalai, on the other hand, served as the president of the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP and is largely credited for improving the BJP's acceptability among the masses. A former IPS officer who quit service to join the BJP, is seen as a charismatic young leader who has helped BJP expand its ground connect with different sections of society.

Annamalai was recently asked to step down as the BJP state chief ahead of the party's alliance with the AIADMK after parting ways 18 months ago. Annamalai's departure as party president is attributed to a condition put down by the AIADMK for an alliance with the BJP. Notably, Annamalai's direct attacks on the AIADMK and its leaders including E Palaniswami was seen as one of the primary reasons behind the alliance being called off previously.

The notification for the May 9 bye-elections has already been released and the last date for nominations is April 29.