Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu has dropped enough hints at forging tie-ups with like-minded parties at the national level when he said the TDP was set to play an important role in the national politics after the next general elections.
Mr. Naidu asserted that the main Opposition party would be a major player in the two successor States after the bifurcation process is completed and “nothing can stop us from securing the majority votes”. “Bringing back the TDP is a historic necessity for putting development back on rails. People are fed up by the scam-ridden Congress,” he said.
He was addressing the extended meeting of the Telangana TDP Forum organised on Saturday following the passage of the Reorganisation Bill in the Parliament. The remarks assume significance as there was mounting pressure on him to forge an alliance with the BJP as the TRS was set to merge with the Congress in Telangana and the likely merger of the YSR Congress in Seemandhra after the elections.
Mr. Naidu said efforts were underway to project the YSR Congress as the champion of the struggle for keeping the State united. “This is a conspiracy aimed at ensuring that the strong anti-Congress wave benefits the YSR Congress in Seemandhra region,” he said.
He said the TDP that stood for united AP in 2004 elections respected the sentiments of the people and extended support to bifurcation in 2008.
But, it remained firm on its demand for equal justice to the two regions. The Congress which completely set aside the Telangana issue, however, brought the issue to the fore after TDP made impressive gains in panchayat raj polls where it regained people’s confidence in both the regions.
The party was not against formation of separate Telangana State, but was opposed to the hurried manner in which the bifurcation process was completed by the Congress for its selfish political ends. In the process, the Centre did not give any specific assurances on resolving contentious issues like power, irrigation and employment opportunities.
Telangana TDP forum convenor E. Dayakar Rao said the party was set to emerge as a national party once the bifurcation was through. It was for Mr. Naidu to decide about the alliances after considering the pros and cons.
