BJP's expansion in states not to impact alliances: Amit Shah

Hyderabad, Jan 8 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will expand in every state but this will have no impact on its alliance with its partners like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), said party chief Amit Shah Thursday.

Shah, who discussed the strategy to make the BJP main political force in Telangana in four years with state party leaders, will hold similar meetings Friday in Andhra Pradesh.

"We are a separate party. BJP has a right to expand and we will expand in every state. This will have no impact on alliance," he said to queries if the party's plans to strengthen the presence in Telangana will run into problems with the TDP.

The TDP is a partner in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. The BJP is also sharing power with the TDP in Andhra Pradesh.

"You will see in four years. BJP will emerge as the main political force in Telangana," said Shah who held a meeting with the core committee and also addressed party leaders from all 10 districts.

"We are trying for that. We hope so," he quipped when asked if BJP will come to power in Telangana in 2019.

The BJP chief said his visit to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh was part of the nation-wide tour to have 10 crore new members. The party, which will run online membership drive from Jan 12 to March 31, has set a target of 35 lakh members in the newly-created state.

Shah said the local unit of BJP will decide whether to have an alliance with the TDP in Telangana in the next elections. Pointing out that BJP polled 22 percent votes in the last year's elections in Telangana, he said the party has strengthened itself in the state.

He did not rule out top leaders from other parties joining BJP in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in coming days.

The BJP leader said the party had not yet decided whether to project somebody as the chief ministerial candidate in Delhi.

On Ram temple issue, he denied that the BJP has forgotten it. "We have not forgotten it. Even if we have forgotten, you have reminded us," he said.

Stating that Modi government has created a positive atmosphere in the country and linked people with development, he said the results of all assembly elections held after the general elections proved that the government enjoyed full support of the people.

"Our victory in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Kashmir shows that people have given a seal of their approval and in a multi-party democracy this is the biggest certification."