Caste divides BJP in West Godavari

Is the BJP in Andhra Pradesh riven by caste conflicts? The election of the party presidents to the district and also the state appears to be driven by caste considerations and various factions are fighting on caste lines. 

The caste war is most severe in both Krishna and West Godvari districts. West Godavari, which has over 4 lakh members enrolled during the recent membership campaign, is riven by castes.

Narsapur MP Gokaraju Gangaraju is trying to promote the candidature of Dalit leader Bunga Sarathi for the post of West Godavari unit president. But, the Kapus are seeing this as an attempt by the powerful Raju community to rule by proxy. Minister Paidikondala Manikyala Rao wants Kapu leaer Ravuri Sudha to be made the party chief in the district.

Adding a third dimension to the tussle, incumbent Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma wants former district president PVS Varma to be made the district unit president again. This is being opposed by the other factions on the grounds that he is already in a nominated post.

West Godavari district boasts of several important party leaders like UV Krishnam Raju, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Kanteti Satyanarayana Raju and even Nirmala Seetaraman.