Who is BJP CM candidate in the state?

Is the BJP planning to project Kanna Lakshminarayana as the party's chief ministerial candidate?  The BJP national leadership, according to insiders, feels that there are many advantages with Kanna Lakshminarayana. He is dynamic, well-known across the state and has friendships cutting across party lines.  More importantly, he belongs to the Kapu community, which is numerically powerful.

The BJP feels that the leadership of other main contenders is either in the hands of Kammas or Reddys. Though Pawan Kalyan too is a Kapu, the political circles are not taking him seriously because of his unpredictable ways. So, that leaves Kanna as the only hope for Kapus. The BJP feels that the Kapu community might rally behind Kanna if he is projected as the CM and this could tilt the scales in favour of the BJP. Even if a significant chunk of Kapu votes shift towards the BJP, it would help the party's prospects.

So, the BJP is planning to project Kanna Lakshminarayana as its CM candidate. More importantly, Kanna-Purandheswari-former IPS Lakshminarayana combo could help bring educated, young voters to the BJP. Sources say Satya Kumar, former PA of Venkaiah Naidu, has been made national secretary only to bring BCs of AP closer to the BJP.