BJP’s Rajya Sabha choice from Andhra Pradesh surprises own partymen

By announcing Paka Venkata Satyanarayana’s name for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP has clearly sent out a message that old-timers and loyalists who religiously follow the saffron party’s ideology will be richly rewarded. Currently serving as the election returning officer of the state chapter, Satyanarayana’s candidature was least expected even within the party circles. 

 

“This is BJP. Posts are not given as per expectations and lobbying,” said a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity.

 

Satyanarayana's name was announced despite widespread speculations that former BJP Tamil Nadu President Annamalai and former Union Minister Smriti Irani were in the race. 

 

“I have served in different positions— from village level to state level— in the party for the blast 40 years. I thank the BJP leadership for this opportunity. The party has once again recognised those who worked loyally for the party,” said Satyanarayana immediately after the announcement. 

 

Satyanarayana was an ABVP leader before joining the BJP in the 1980’s. All through his political career, he was known to be a passional member of the AP RSS. Those close to him remember Satyanarayana for his verbal duet with Congress senior leader Mani Shankar Aiyer in the early 1990’s when the latter had visited Bhimavaram, the native place of Satyanarayana. 

 

“During that time, the Congress party was at its peak being in power at the Centre. Mani Shankar Aiyar attended a public forum. Satyanarayana who was a counsellor from one of the wards in Bhimavaram picked up an argument on the topic of Ayodhya and Article 370. For all of us, it felt like he won the debate with Mani Shankar Aiyar,” Said another leader attached to the BJP headquarters in AP.

 

Satyanarayana won three times as a counsellor. He moved up the ranks in the party but failed to win as a public representative contesting unsuccessfully for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. A lawyer by profession, he has served as the party’s spokesperson and state executive member too. Satyanarayana is known to be a trouble shooter within the party and is also known to fearlessly question the leaders of the party who stray away from ideals. He is a BC leader and it also seems to have counted for the party that wants to attract BC voters. 

India