Hyderabad: Predicting that it would be difficult for the BJP to strengthen its base Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu states, TRS president and TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday said that the BJP was trying to enlist support of Kapus in AP by picking up a strong Kapu leader.

He said the BJP was testing the waters in AP due to the lower percentage of Muslim population in that state.

Interacting with media persons at his residence in New Delhi, Mr Rao said that according to the latest sample survey conducted by one agency, the YSR Congress has the support of 45 per cent voters in AP, the ruling TD 43 per cent and Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena only 2 per cent. The BJP has 2.5 per cent vote in AP and the rest split among the other parties, Mr Rao said.

Replying to a question, he said that separate Governors will be appointed for AP and TS very soon.

Reiterating his argument that bifurcation of the state was a great opportunity for both Telangana and AP to grow independently, he said that the two states are now addressing various developmental issues concerning them since long.

“Development is taking place at a remarkable pace in both the state, and this is only due to bifurcation. A lot more things can be done if is coordination among us on sharing of Godavari and Krishna waters,” Mr Rao said.

“If both the states cooperate and draw common strategies, we can do wonders,” he said.

The CM said that his AP counterpart should have moved to Amaravati immediately after bifurcation as no purpose was served when the AP government functioned from the common capital for nearly two years.

Repeating his earlier allegation that a conspiracy was hatched by certain people in Delhi to create instability in Telangana by imposing President’s Rule as soon as the new state came into being, Mr Rao said, “I successfully foiled the conspiracy to destabilise my government but the attempts continued till the MLC polls in 2015 by buying my MLAs. I foiled these attempts too, and ensured that the AP government fled to Amaravati. Why would I tolerate if someone tries to topple my government?”

He said all the apprehensions among the Andhranative people living in TS were allayed by his administration.

Referring to the defence land transfer, Mr Rao said he was expecting the Centre to allot the Bison Polo Grounds and other lands to the state to construct a new Secretariat complex and also new Assembly, Legislative Council buildings at one place.

He said the proposed new Assembly building will be a replica of the Old building that has been declared a heritage structure.