Sangh Roots, Regional Pull: Why BJP Chose PVN Madhav As New Andhra Unit Chief

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PVN Madhav succeeds D Purandeshwari -- a prominent figure from the renowned NTR family -- and his elevation marks a shift as it follows the BJP's improvement in the 2024 elections
The appointment of PVN Madhav as the new Andhra Pradesh BJP president has not surprised many within the state unit. His selection reflects the party's strategic considerations and its growing confidence in a state where the BJP has historically had limited influence.
Madhav is a candidate who meets multiple criteria — organisational loyalty, Sangh roots, regional representation, and community appeal. The BJP, as it continues to build its base in the largely unexplored political terrain of southern India, has recognised the need for this kind of a leadership in Andhra Pradesh.
Madhav succeeds D Purandeshwari — a prominent figure from the renowned NTR family — and his elevation marks a significant shift as it follows the BJP's improvement in the 2024 assembly elections. From a vote share of less than 1 per cent in 2019 — lower than NOTA –the party has made tangible gains in both assembly and Lok Sabha segments.
This decision aligns with a discernible trend in post-bifurcation Andhra politics. Over the past decade, the party has appointed four state presidents—two from the Kamma community and two from the Kapu community; two with strong RSS backgrounds and two who previously belonged to the Congress. Madhav, a member of the BC community and a long-time Sangh affiliate, fits the BJP's current requirements both socially and ideologically.
A cost accountant by profession, PVN Madhav has deep roots in the Sangh Parivar, having been active in the ABVP and BJYM since his early years. The son of BJP veteran and former MLC P.V. Chalapathi Rao, Madhav also served as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from the North Andhra Graduates' Constituency during the previous NDA government led by the TDP. He currently holds the position of State General Secretary in the party.
In Andhra's caste-driven political landscape—dominated by the Kammas in the TDP and the Kapus in Jana Sena—the BJP sees an opportunity to tap into the significant BC vote bank, where Madhav could prove to be an effective mobiliser.
The central leadership's selection process has been particularly meticulous, especially with the election of a new national president on the horizon—overdue for nearly two and a half years. Feedback from the grassroots in Andhra Pradesh has indicated a strong preference for leaders with ideological commitment to the BJP-RSS ecosystem, rather than those who switch sides around election time.
Unlike neighbouring Telangana—where the BJP has had a longer presence and a wider pool of contenders—Andhra Pradesh offered relatively limited options for leadership selection. Over the years, several leaders within the BJP in Andhra have migrated from the TDP, while many of the original BJP loyalists have either taken on key roles within the state or been accommodated at the Centre. For instance, Satya Kumar currently serves as the state's Health Minister, while Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma has been inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Union Cabinet.
The recent Lok Sabha polls validated BJP's emerging foothold, with the party winning all three seats it contested. In the Assembly polls, BJP secured 8 out of the 10 seats it contested—an impressive feat given that its ally, the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, won 135 of the 144 seats it fought.
As the BJP prepares for future electoral battles, both in the state and at the national level, PVN Madhav's appointment signals a calculated, ideology-driven push to deepen the party's roots in Andhra Pradesh.
First Published:
June 30, 2025, 23:55 IST