Andhra leaders get BJP national posts, Telangana draws blank

Telangana has no representation in the BJP's new national office-bearers team announced by party president Nitin Nabin, making it the only southern state without a post, The Times of India reports. In contrast, Andhra Pradesh leaders have secured multiple positions, including former Union minister Daggubati Purandeswari as national vice-president and S. Vishnuvardhan Reddy as coordinator for party cells, according to telugu360.com. Ram Madhav, originally from Andhra Pradesh, returns as national vice-president under the Delhi quota.

Telangana leaders who previously held national posts, such as D.K. Aruna (dropped as vice-president) and Bandi Sanjay Kumar (now Union minister), are absent from the new team. The Times of India notes that leaders had approached the high command seeking positions, and internal factionalism is cited as a possible reason. Telangana BJP circles view the appointments alongside a possible Union Cabinet expansion, with speculation that the central leadership may accommodate a Telangana leader in the government to balance party and government roles, telugu360.com adds.