Why Venkaiah Naidu suits BJP for VP

NEW DELHI: By nominating Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu for the vice-presidential elections coming up next month, BJP has stuck to its basic criterion of going for someone who represents a southern state, since it chose the Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind from Uttar Pradesh.
This balancing act was needed for BJP as it hopes to gain some new ground in the southern states where the party so far has a weak presence, except Karnataka where it is a significant force and needs to improve it before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
BJP’s stronghold states, mostly in the north, have already exhausted their kitty of seats giving the party its maximum in 2014. Chances are, the party will face anti-incumbency that could bring down its tally in states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan etc, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In this situation, the party has to rely on new grounds to bring up the tally.
Hence the nomination of Naidu, who represents Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and even Tamil Nadu for his close association with the state, could be beneficial to BJP for the 2019 Lok Sabha.
Naidu also fits the bill for BJP in terms of its another requirement, which is a seasoned leader at the helm of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House in Parliament where the ruling NDA still lacks a majority.
Given that the House needs to be run smoothly, Naidu’s years of experience in Parliament and his acceptance across all the parties are added advantage for the BJP.