TDP willing to joint Federal Front

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is ready to join the Federal Front proposed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu told reporters Thursday.

Naidu, a former Andhra Pradesh chief minister, told reporters that he was in touch with leaders of various regional parties including Banerjee over the formation of the proposed front, and the TDP was always ready to work with non-United Progressive Alliance and non-National Democratic Alliance parties.

"We will take a decision at an appropriate time on joining Third Front or Federal Front. I am confident the regional parties will come together and form the Third Front as an alternative for both the UPA and the NDA," he said.

He said the Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the two alliances headed by them were weakening day by day.

"The regional parties are gaining in strength, and they will form the next government at the centre," said Naidu, who was convenor of the United Front which formed governments at the centre in 1996 and 1998.

The TDP chief pointed out that TDP initiated three out of four non Congress governments at the centre. He was confident that his party would again play a crucial role in the national politics.

Naidu had last month said he was ready to take the initiative for formation of third front. He had also predicted that parties which were not part of the United Front would also join the proposed front.

Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress, Wednesday said she spoke to Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar and Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janta Dal chief Naveen Patnaik on the proposed front.