Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, July 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday appointed state chiefs for Punjab, Telangana, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh as part of a significant organisational rejig ahead of the 2024 elections.
In Telangana, Punjab, and Jharkhand, the party elected Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, Sunil Jakhar and Babulal Marandi as their respective presidents.
In a statement, the party also named former Union minister D Purandeswari as its new president for Andhra Pradesh and appointed OBC leader Etela Rajender as its chairperson for the election management committee in Telangana, which is close to holding elections.
The development emphasises the BJP’s focus to set its house in order in Telangana, where many influential but relatively new party members were opposed to Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s leadership.
In the upcoming days, there may be a rearrangement in the central government and Kumar could be appointed as a minister, according to the sources.
Ashwani Sharma is replaced by Jakhar and Deepak Prakash is replaced by Marandi.
The change is crucial in how politicians who joined the BJP from other parties are given priority. Jakhar and Rajender joined the BJP after leaving the Congress and the BRS, respectively.
Purandeswari served as a minister in the UPA government while serving in Congress.
The latest developments will intensify rumours of a Cabinet shake-up.