City TDP leaders resent tie-up with BJP

‘After nurturing constituencies over the years, allocating seats to the alliance partner would be detrimental in the long run’

Several Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders and workers from the city on Sunday decried the party’s alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amid demands from some on withdrawing the arrangement for ensuing elections.

The TDP city unit office was thronged by local leaders, workers and several aspiring to be fielded from different constituencies, and vocal objections were raised about the seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP. Many complained that they had been nurturing their constituencies over the years and plans to allocate seats to the alliance partner would be detrimental for TDP in the longer run.

“We build a network, remain in contact with locals and build a positive wave for our party over the years. After all the effort, it is embarrassing to go to the electorate and request them to vote for a candidate of some other party,” said a leader of the TDP city unit.

Some of the party workers held placards at the meeting demanding that the alliance be kept aside in the interest of the party. “Last time, it was TRS alliance and we did not get an opportunity to test our strength in the city that had been developed so well by our party. Now, it is BJP,” lamented R.G. Pavan Kumar Goud, vice-president, city TDP.

Lost opportunity

The chief of party’s local unit, T. Srinivas Yadav conceded that the party workers were feeling aggrieved and some aspirants for seats that were going to the BJP were hurt at not getting an opportunity to contest. “They are understandably agitated. I met them to convince that the decision was taken in the larger interest by the party. We will meet our senior leaders and also our party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu to convey the sentiment of party workers and leaders of the city,” Mr. Srinivas Yadav added.