Vijayawada, Sep 22 (IANS): The BJP's Andhra Pradesh unit chief Somu Veerraju on Tuesday said that it is not only important for the saffron party to gain power in the state but it should also catapult it to the top position in terms of development.

"As much as it is important for the BJP to come to power in Andhra, it is also important to develop the state," said Veerraju at the new party office bearers meeting.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee came from very humble backgrounds and went on to put India in a strong position in the international community.

"With a similar thought process, today we want to make Andhra a self-sufficient Andhra (Samrudh Andhra) in all aspects," said the BJP leader.

Commenting on the state of politics in Andhra Pradesh, he said there is no need for the BJP to criticize any political party but highlighted that politics in the southern state revolve around dynasties.

As part of the meeting, the BJP paid tributes to party workers who succumbed to the coronavirus and Veerraju unveiled a district Sevahi Sanghatan e-book.

"During the difficult pandemic time, party workers discharged many welfare activities on a call given by Modi and J. P. Nadda. This e-book details such activities up to the mandal level," said a party official.

BJP National Joint Secretary V. Satish, National Secretary and co-incharge of Andhra, Sunil Deodhar and others participated in the programme.

Recently, the BJP appointed a slew of office bearers in the party including 10 vice-presidents, five general secretaries, five state secretaries, seven state morcha presidents and six spokespersons.

Andhra Pradesh is one of the four southern states where the BJP is yet to taste success, even as it has came to power in Karnataka.

Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into two states in 2014, the Congress party was decimated from the state's political scene.