Hyderabad: With over 70 aspirants eyeing just 20 coveted positions in the soon-to-be-announced Telangana BJP state committee, the party is exploring an alternative strategy: Reviving its long-dormant issue-based cells to accommodate overlooked leaders and defuse internal friction.Party insiders say the competition is fierce. Recommendations have poured in from senior leaders, while many aspirants have lobbied directly. “The rush is understandable. A state committee post comes with party protocol—visibility on key platforms, including when national leaders like the PM visit. It’s both symbolic and strategic,” a source saidThe leadership has decided to cap appointments to top positions—three vice-presidents, three general secretaries, seven secretaries, and one treasurer. The post of general secretary, in particular, has drawn high interest, with 22 leaders, including former MLAs and MPs, in the fray.The secretary positions are similarly crowded, with more than 40 aspirants and multiple factions pushing for their candidates. Recommendations from former state presidents have only intensified the scramble.To address the challenge of limited slots, the BJP is now planning to revive and empower subject-specific cells—each focusing on areas like irrigation, agriculture, and welfare. These cells, led by conveners, will provide leadership roles to those left out of the core committee. As per party rules, 19 such cells can be formed, though only the legal cell has been functional in recent years.“These cells won’t just exist on paper. They’ll drive research, shape narratives, and spotlight government failures. Most importantly, they’ll connect with people at the grassroots,” a senior functionary saidThis dual-track approach—balancing leadership roles with issue-centric engagement—is expected to energise the party ahead of upcoming political challenges.The official state committee list is likely to be released within the next 10 days, once pending district-level appointments are finalised.
