The BJP national leadership, it appears, feels that Bandi Sanjay has an appeal that cuts across the two Telugu states. It is of the opinion that Bandi can get votes in Andhra Pradesh too. So, it has asked Bandi Sanjay to campaign in Tirupati bypoll too.
According to party sources, the national leadership has asked Telangana state BJP chief to allocate two days for Tirupati. Accordingly, Bandi would be in Tirupati on April 14 and 15. He would participate in a road show and address a public meeting. Sources said that there was a request from the AP BJP too that Sanjay should address a public meeting in Tirupati. He would be declared as a star campaigner for the party. Another reason for asking Bandi to campaign is the presence of over two lakh Balija voters in Tirupati. Bandi Sanjay is a Munnuru Kapu. Both Kapus and Balijas are considered one and the same.
This is being seen as a recognition of Sanjay’s mass appeal among the Telugu voters. He has famously said that the battle in Tirupati would be between Bhagavad Gita and the Bible. This was aimed at attacking Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is a Christian and is being blamed for the spate of attacks on the temples in the state.
