BJP not in a hurry for tie-up with TDP?

Bharatiya Janata Party appears to be adopting a wait-and-watch policy as regards the possibility of having an electoral alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), notwithstanding backroom parleys held between the leaders of the two parties by “common friends”.

Although the Telugu Desam in the recent past stopped criticising BJP amidst indications that it was moving closer to the latter, the Telangana leaders of BJP are against forging an electoral understanding with TDP.

According to BJP sources, there was also a likelihood of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), instead of sailing with the Congress, might prefer to join hands with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and share power in the event of the grouping forming the government at the Centre.

Where was the need for BJP to be in a hurry to decide on alliances in such a scenario, said a senior BJP leader.

The sources said that 90 per cent of leaders and cadre from Telangana were opposed to a tie-up with the TDP as the latter was still perceived as “anti-Telangana” party. Besides, BJP would like to emerge as an alternative to the Congress in Telangana and its growth would get stunted if it partnered with the TDP, the sources added.

However, a senior TDP leader was dismissive of the argument and added that TDP had a strong cadre base in Telangana unlike BJP.

He said the TDP was also keen on keeping various options open, including that of aligning with the Third Front although indications were that a TDP-BJP tie-up would benefit both the parties.