There are two scenarios BJP is trying to play by putting CBN and potentially Lokesh in jail until the elections.
1. Make CBN desperate, he will bow down and agree to an alliance with approx. 60 seats to BJP-JSP. Even if TDP alliance forms gov. with this strategy, then they will collapse the gov. by joining hands with Jaggad. Same as how they have been doing in other states.
2. If CBN does not accept, then he will be in jail. This will result in bad electioneering, candidate selection for TDP and dent their chances of winning. We are clearly seeing TDP with a lack of leadership now. Lokesh is busy trying to release CBN and avoid his arrest. No one is really leading from the front for electioneering and candidate selection process.