'Opportunist' TDP will return to NDA: Congress

Congress Party leader Jagdambika Pal on Tuesday said his party faces no threat if the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) joins the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, and added that the alliance would prove the theory that Chandrababu Naidu's party bases its politics on opportunism rather than on principle.

"Chandrababu Naidu is getting ready to join hands with the BJP. Till now, he was also talking about the Third Front, and meeting Sharad Yadav. Thus, it is clear that he is not planning his future based on principles, but instead based on opportunism-depending on where he will gain the most," Pal said.

"Their alliance will not make any difference to the Congress Party. Even in 2004, when the TDP was part of the NDA, we won the elections and have been in power ever since. This is the same old story, and will play out the same way," he added.

Pal also demanded answers from the BJP, if the alliance was to go forward, as their party position has maintained its support for the creation of Telangana-which is in direct opposition to the TDP's demand.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party will have to answer on what basis the TDP will be, once again, part of the NDA. The TDP is against Telangana, while the BJP is for it, which puts them in complete opposition of viewpoints. So, will the Bharatiya Janata Party change its stand once Naidu comes in?" Pal said.

After the TDP walked out of the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting on the Telangana issue, party chief Chandrababu Naidu on Monday criticized the apathy of the Centre towards the agitation of the 'burning' state of Andhra Pradesh.

"One state is burning, virtually, because of your political gain you have done so many things in that state. More than two years Telangana, now Seemandhra, so far no action has been taken, you are not calling anybody, you (Central government) are not discussing it with anybody," Naidu said.

Earlier, the TDP chief had met with President Pranab Mukherjee and political leaders in the national capital to seek an amicable solution to the division of Andhra Pradesh and, with it, the creation of Telangana.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had earlier said that the process for the formation of the new state of Telangana would take about five to six months as per constitutional norms.

"The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has passed a resolution and further procedure will be done according to the Constitution of India. Telangana will be formed by following all the procedures and it would take five to six months," he said.

He also added that Telangana was being formed because it was the oldest issue and the people of that region have been agitating and demanding the formation of a separate state since 1956.