Former Chief Minister and president of Jai Samaikyandhra Party (JSP) N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday said his party would support the third alternative. It would also include the amendment of Article 3 in its election manifesto, he added.
“Many of the third alternative members are against the bifurcation of the State. The CPI(M) has even included in its manifesto that it will work for the amendment of Article 3,” Mr. Reddy said.
Answering questions at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by the Andhra Pradesh Working Journalist Association here Mr Reddy said, “Let us hope that the third alternative comes to power. JSP will continue to fight for the unity and welfare of the Telugus no matter what the election results are and will support the third alternative.”
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Mr. Reddy said Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and TMC president Mamata Banerjee had spoken to him soon after the bifurcation Bill was passed in Lok Sabha. Several parties such as Biju Janata Dal, Lok Dal and Akali Dal were against bifurcation of the State and even AIDMK MPs had come into the well of the House to register their protest, he said.
He also quoted BJP leaders -- Arun Jaitley, Narendra Modi and L. K. Advani while the Bill was discussed after it was passed in Parliament.