BJP keen on gaining grip over Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Political parties appear to be using auto-rickshaw drivers as pawns for asserting their supremacy in the city. A cold war has broken out between two groups of drivers following the BJP making an attempt to split the unions.

The auto drivers’ trade unions are controlled mostly by two Communist parties. But never a conflict has arisen between the drivers till now.

With the entry of BJP, a section of drivers has tilted to form a rival union, leading to friction and conflict among them. The party leaders are focussing on wooing the drivers who are operating from the Pandit Nehru bus-station.

In the aftermath of the general elections, which witnessed emergence of the BJP as a force to reckon with, the leaders have decided to lay foundation to strengthen the organisation to capture power in the next elections.

To follow it up with action, they have got down to the business of consolidating their base in Vijayawada, once the stronghold of Communists, by splitting the auto-rickshaw drivers’ unions. The new association has been named Dr Shyam Prasad Mukherjee Auto Drivers’ Association.

The BJP leaders claim that they decided to mobilise drivers to ensure that they do not harass passengers and fleece them. They alleged that drivers of unions have been extorting money from passengers by quoting exorbitant fares.

The leaders have also set out to strengthen ABVP, affiliated to the party, in the city. As part of this efforts ABVP recently organised a meeting by inviting Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The developments appear to have rattled not only the Communist parties, but also the TDP.