BJP's fortunes will not improve under Modi: TDP

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Sunday said the BJP's fortunes would not improve with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi leading the party's campaign in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

"This is not going to help the BJP. It will not improve the party's fortunes," said a TDP leader while reacting to the party's announcement, naming Modi as the chairman of the election management committee for the next year's polls.

The BJP's national conclave in Panaji Sunday named Modi as the head of the party's campaign for Lok Sabha polls.

The TDP leader, who did not want to be named, told IANS that irrespective of the leader, the BJP is not acceptable to the people as an alternative to the Congress. He said the third front will form the government at the centre in 2014.

The TDP, which had supported the BJP-led NDA government (1999-2004), also had electoral alliance with the party in the 2004 elections. However, after the defeat, the TDP snapped its alliance and admitted that it committed a mistake by joining hands with the BJP.

TDP chief and former Andhra chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had recently said that the Congress was diminishing and the BJP is not picking up.