BJP to contest solo in Telangana, other states: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday indicated a significant shift in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s electoral strategy, stating that the party plans to contest elections independently in several states, including Telangana, instead of depending on alliances with regional parties.

Shah made the remarks during an informal interaction with reporters in New Delhi on the occasion marking 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance.

“Our aim is to contest independently and come to power in every state that goes to polls, whether it is Punjab or Telangana,” he said.

Reiterating the BJP’s focus on strengthening its presence in southern India, Shah made it clear that the party would not enter into any alliance in Telangana in the next elections. “We will contest there alone,” he said.

However, he remained silent on the party’s future strategy in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, while asserting that all NDA allies were functioning smoothly. “We are not creating any issues for any regional party in our alliance. Everyone, including Nitish Kumar, N. Chandrababu Naidu and Eknath Shinde, is satisfied,” he said.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin and several Union ministers were also present during the interaction.

Shah’s comments have sparked widespread political debate, particularly in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with analysts assessing the implications for existing alliances and future political alignments.

The Union Home Minister emphasised that the BJP’s long-term goal is to expand its independent footprint across the country rather than rely on coalition politics. He said the party is placing special focus on southern states as part of its expansion strategy, with plans to strengthen organisational structure and electoral reach in the region.

Political observers say Shah’s remarks reflect the party’s growing confidence after electoral gains in regions such as West Bengal, and indicate a broader ambition to emerge as a dominant standalone force across southern India over the coming years.