TDP back in NDA; ties up with BJP for LS, Andhra state polls

In a boost to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Sunday joined the coalition and formed an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the coming Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.     

Capping protracted negotiations over the last fortnight, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar announced the alliance between the two parties at a press conference here on Sunday.

Akali Dal member of Parliament (MP) Naresh Gujral, who mediated between the two parties, said, “I am delighted to inform you that Naidu's party is joining the NDA.”

According to the seat-sharing arrangement worked out between the two parties, the saffron party would contest five Lok Sabha and 15 Assembly constituencies in Seemandhra and eight parliamentary and 47 Assembly seats in Telangana.     

The list of the constituencies to be contested by the parties would be declared in a couple of days, Naidu said.     

Describing the alliance between TDP and BJP as a “lucky one”, Naidu exuded confidence that NDA would get over 300 seats (in Lok Sabha elections) this time.     

“Modi is a development man. Irrespective of religion, region and communities, Modi is being supported. Our goal is Congress free India and corruption free India," said Naidu, who had supported the earlier NDA government at the Centre but parted ways due to TDP's objections on the Gujarat riots' issue.

When asked about the resentment in both the parties over seat-sharing, Naidu and Javadekar said the alliance has been finalised in national interest and that ticket aspirants in both the parties would cooperate in good spirit.     

Replying to a query, Naidu said both the parties would undertake a joint campaign for the elections.

Javadekar said the announcement is a historic one that has enthused not only Telangana and (new) Andhra Pradesh, but the whole country.

"BJP national president Rajnath Singh today telephoned Naidu ji. They had good exchange. Arun Jaitley ji also spoke to him. What we are going to declare will usher in both the states, is what we always said that both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh can exist peacefully and prosper rapidly," he said in his introductory remarks.

Heaping praise on Naidu, Gujral said "whenever the nation has faced a crisis, Chandrababu Naidu has come to the rescue of the nation." Asked how he would justify joining NDA when BJP leaders like Amit Shah allegedly made "communal" comments, Naidu said Modi is seen all over the country as a development-oriented leader. "Ours is a secular party. We maintain that. We supported NDA. At that time also, we were clear. Even Modi, country is supporting him for development. Irrespective of communities, regions, people are supporting him for development," he said.