The Telugu Desam Party has kept its options open of joining Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance coalition at the Centre.
TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu did not rule out the possibility of joining the coalition. The TDP which entered into an alliance with the BJP in the past was not part of the erstwhile NDA coalition and extended outside support to Vajpayee-led NDA.
“The alliance during the present election is a pre-poll tie-up and we are part of the NDA now,” Mr. Naidu said. The issue would come up for a discussion during the meeting of the parliamentary party leaders of the coalition parties where an appropriate decision would be taken.
Addressing a press conference after his party won the elections in the Seemandhra region, Mr. Naidu said the TDP kept in mind national interests when it entered into alliance with the BJP and he was the first to assert that the coalition would win 300-plus seats. Replying to a query, the TDP chief said he would take decisions in coordination with the Modi-led government to put Seemandhra region on fast-track development.
To a query on whether he would press for expediting cases against YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, he said the TDP would not adopt vindictive attitude against any individual or political party. “The NDA coalition is set to come to power as people believed that it will root out corruption and provide a stable government,” he said.
Asked whether he would extend a helping hand to TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao who would form the government in Telangana, he said the TDP being the major opposition in the region would always stand by the people of Telangana. “There was vicious and wishful thinking by some parties that wanted to see the TDP out of Telangana. But people stood by the TDP and voted for us,” he added.
