New Delhi: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed the possibility of an alliance between the BJP and the regional party for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh. Sources said both the parties are ready to join hands but a lot will depend on seat-sharing. This was the second meeting between the two leaders in the last few months.
TDP does not want delay in alliance
TDP leaders said any further delay in forming the alliance would not be beneficial as elections are approaching and any ambiguity would confuse party workers and supporters. Jana Sena Party led by actor Pawan Kalyan, who has been a member of the NDA. It has already joined hands with TDP and is also urging BJP to form an alliance with TDP. TDP was earlier part of the BJP-led NDA alliance, but walked out in 2018.
Naidu met Amit Shah for the second time
Naidu had met Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda in February, giving rise to speculations that they were moving towards an alliance, although things are not yet clear. Sources said there is a difference of opinion between the two parties on how many seats the BJP will contest in the state, where it does not have much presence.
BJP wants to fight on so many seats
There are 25 Lok Sabha and 175 assembly seats in the state and the BJP is keen to contest eight to 10 parliamentary constituencies. However, TDP sources said that in case of an alliance, BJP may contest on five to six Lok Sabha seats, Jana Sena may contest on three and his party may contest on the remaining seats.
the problem is stuck here
What complicates matters for the BJP is that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has been clearly supporting the Modi government’s agenda in Parliament and has good personal relations with its senior leaders. The BJP has been working to expand the NDA for some time now as it eyes a big victory in the Lok Sabha elections to be held in April-May.
As the ruling party eyes a third term under Modi and has set a target of winning 370 seats on its own and 400 with allies, there is a view within the BJP that those who are positively inclined towards its agenda will Joining hands with regional parties will be helpful.
Discussion going on on alliance with BJD in Odisha
The development comes amid indications that the BJP and Biju Janata Dal are on the verge of finalizing an alliance in Odisha as senior leaders of both the parties held separate meetings on Wednesday and hinted at such a possibility.
Input- PTI
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