With the Telugu Desam-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance reaping handsome electoral dividends in Seemandhra, both the parties are now looking to be part of the governments at the Centre as well as in the residual Andhra Pradesh State in a reciprocal arrangement.
Although BJP won only four Assembly seats as against TDP’s 102, the party appears keen to share power in Andhra Pradesh. BJP national spokesperson Prakash Javadekar replied in the affirmative when asked if the party wanted to be part of the government in Andhra Pradesh. He added that though BJP was a small party (four MLAs) in Seemandhra, “But still, we will have a role.”
Talking to The Hindu , he described the results in Seemandhra as “wonderful.” He said the people have chosen “Swarnandhra” over “Scamandhra.” In Telangana, there was the ripple effect of the division leading to a triangular contest. Observing that the BJP would play a watchful role in the interest of the people, he said the BJP was committed to the development of both Telangana and Seemandhra.
A Seemandhra BJP functionary said the national leadership would take a call on the prospect of sharing power in Andhra Pradesh. A lot would depend on what the BJP leadership would offer NDA allies in the Central cabinet, he said and did not rule out the possibility of TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu giving a berth in the cabinet here to the BJP after extracting some “heavyweight” portfolio at the Centre.
While confirming that the TDP was keen to be part of the NDA coalition at the Centre, a senior TDP leader said the question of offering a share in the cabinet to the BJP in Andhra Pradesh will have to be discussed in the party before taking any decision.
