Six months ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party won just one seat in election to the Telangana Legislative Assembly and now, it has four Lok Sabha seats which account for 22 Assembly segments. Party president K. Laxman has seen the lows and highs within months but shows equanimity even as his days have become longer and phones rings round-the-clock from those eager to join his party. In an interview he tells us about the party’s game plan. Edited excerpts. Everyone seems to be flocking to your party, does it mean you will admit all and sundry?
We have opened our doors to anyone believing in our party’s ideals and Prime Minister Narendra Modi government. Everyday we are getting calls from leaders from all parties, including Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). We are not promising any posts or positions and elections are five years away, so whoever is coming should be ready to join us on the ground to fight against the autocratic TRS government and prove their mettle. Of course, we will be careful about taking in those with cases against them.
What makes you think BJP will be the main opposition for TRS considering the ‘blow-hot, blow-cold’ relationship between the parties?
 
That is in the past. Our national leadership is now clear about focusing on winning the next Assembly elections in Bengal, Telangana and Odisha. Congress Party is nowhere in the picture with its leaders abandoning the party to serve their personal interests and Telugu Desam is deserted. We will fill the political vacuum as people realise we are the real opposition, hence we have a greater responsibility.
How do you respond to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s charge that the Modi government did not give a single paisa to the State in the last five years?
What makes you think BJP will be the main opposition for TRS considering the ‘blow-hot, blow-cold’ relationship between the parties?
 
That is in the past. Our national leadership is now clear about focusing on winning the next Assembly elections in Bengal, Telangana and Odisha. Congress Party is nowhere in the picture with its leaders abandoning the party to serve their personal interests and Telugu Desam is deserted. We will fill the political vacuum as people realise we are the real opposition, hence we have a greater responsibility. How do you respond to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s charge that the Modi government did not give a single paisa to the State in the last five years?