BJP appoints new state chiefs for Punjab, Telangana, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday appointed state chiefs for Punjab, Telangana, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh as part of a major organizational shake-up ahead of the 2024 elections.

In Telangana, Punjab and Jharkhand, the party elected Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, Sunil Jakhar and Babulal Marandi as its presidents.

In a statement, the party also named former Union minister D Purandeswari as its new president for Andhra Pradesh and appointed OBC chairperson Etela Rajender as the chairperson of the Telangana election management committee ahead of the elections.

The development highlights the BJP's focus on organizing its house in Telangana, where many influential but relatively new party members were opposed to the leadership of Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

There may be a reshuffle in the central government in the coming days and Kumar could be made a minister, sources said.

Ashwani Sharma is replaced by Jakhar and Deepak Prakash is replaced by Marandi.

The change is fundamental in how politicians who joined the BJP from other parties will be favoured. Jakhar and Rajender joined BJP after leaving Congress and BRS respectively.

Purandeswari served as a minister in the UPA government while serving in the Congress. The latest development will fuel rumors of a cabinet shakeup.