BJP Secures TDP Support for Andhra Rajya Sabha Bypoll
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured the support of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-election in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled for May 9. The bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of YSR Congress Party member Vijayasai Reddy, who stepped down in January before the end of his term in June 2028.
With the TDP commanding a majority in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, the BJP is now well-positioned to claim the vacated Rajya Sabha seat, strengthening the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) presence in the Upper House. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is expected to meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to finalize discussions around the bypoll and other state-level matters.
Potential Candidates: Smriti Irani and K. Annamalai
Prominent names under consideration for the BJP nomination include former Union Minister Smriti Irani and former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai. Irani, a high-profile party leader who lost her Amethi Lok Sabha seat in 2024, remains influential in BJP circles. Annamalai, having recently stepped down from his state leadership role, is also seen as a strong and emerging contender with a national profile.
NDA’s Dominance in Andhra Pradesh
The TDP-led NDA alliance, which includes the BJP and Janasena Party, enjoys significant strength in the state assembly. This robust position virtually guarantees a smooth passage for the NDA’s candidate in the Rajya Sabha bypoll, marking a strategic consolidation of the alliance’s influence both within the state and in national politics.
