Did AP state BJP chief Purandeshwari resign after CBI haul of drug shipment at Vizag port? Fact Check

Ahead of elections to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, an allegation on state BJP chief Daggubati Purandeshwari is going viral with a claim that she has resigned from the post of State BJP President. The connection was purportedly made due to the recent CBI crackdown and seizure of a container of drugs in a ship at Visakhapatnam port in Andhra Pradesh. The container of Sandhya Aqua was linked to her in social media.

Soon after this news, a WhatsApp message is being shared widely claiming that Purandeshwari has resigned from her post. She is also the daughter of renowned Telugu actor and founder of Telugu Desam Party Late Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (N.T Rama Rao).

It has triggered debates on Telugu Youtube channels as well. The text being shared is in Telugu as below: Here’s the resignation letter in Telugu by Purandeshwari going viral on social media:

The English translation reads as below:

“Press release
Subject: Resignation of Bharatiya Janata Party State President

Due to the injustice made to Andhra people in 2014 by the Congress Party, resigned from it and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. I have worked hard to strengthen the party (BJP) since then. I discharged all the responsibilities assigned by the party. I felt fortunate to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the development of the country. I have been serving the Bharatiya Janata Party for the past ten years. I have stood on the side of the people. In recognition of my hard work, on July 4, 2023, the BJP leadership appointed me as the president of Andhra Pradesh BJP. After taking charge of the presidency, the focus was on the strengthening the Bharatiya Janata Party in Andhra state and the strategies to be followed in the 2024 elections. However, on 21.03.2024 (Thursday), it came to my notice that drugs were seized in a container shipped to one of our close relatives and business partner at Visakhapatnam. The person is known to be the owner of Sandhya Exports, our brother-in-law Veerabhadra Rao. In this background, many accusations are being made against me on social media and mainstream media. There are rumours that my husband and my son are involved in this affair. I inform you that there is no truth in the news and propaganda. Until the the guilty is found in this case, I decided to step down from the post of state president. I have taken this decision with the intention not to tarnish the reputation of the BJP. I hope the party leaders and workers will respect my decision. I would like to thank the BJP ranks who have supported me all these years. I will soon submit my resignation letter to the party president Shri JP Nadda.”

FACT-CHECK

First of all, our search on Google revealed that there was no such news report or any official statement in this regard. We further checked the official social media accounts of Purandeswari and found that there was no such statement issued by her about her resignation from the party post. When searched further, social media accounts of BJP in Andhra Pradesh issued a statement calling all these claims fake. Here’s the Twitter post:

ముఖ్య సూచన

సామజిక మాధ్యమాల్లో విస్తృత ప్రచారం జరుగుతున్న ఈ లెటర్ ఒక ఫేక్ లెటర్.

NDA కూటమి వ్యతిరేక శక్తులు ప్రచారం చేస్తున్న ఫేక్ న్యూస్ అని గమనించగలరు

A Fake letter claims that BJP AP State President Smt Daggubati Purandeswari has resigned.

Please note that it is a fake… pic.twitter.com/DzeuzSS13O

— BJP ANDHRA PRADESH (@BJP4Andhra) March 22, 2024

“ముఖ్య సూచన సామజిక మాధ్యమాల్లో విస్తృత ప్రచారం జరుగుతున్న ఈ లెటర్ ఒక ఫేక్ లెటర్. NDA కూటమి వ్యతిరేక శక్తులు ప్రచారం చేస్తున్న ఫేక్ న్యూస్ అని గమనించగలరు.
A Fake letter claims that BJP AP State President Smt Daggubati Purandeswari has resigned. Please note that it is fake news being circulated by anti-NDA alliance forces.”

The BJP media division termed the claim as a hoax. Hence, the claim that Daggubati Purandeswari resigned from the post BJP state president is false.

Claim: Andhra Pradesh BJP state president Daggubati Purandeswari resigned from the post after the seizure of shipment of drugs in Vizag.

Conclusion: The Claim is false. Andhra Pradesh BJP state president Daggubati Purandeswari did not offer any resignation as claimed.

Rating: Misleading —