Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday congratulated BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over the stupendous victory of NDA in the general elections.
“I am looking forward to work with you for development and good governance in the state and at the Centre,” Mr. Chandrababu told Mr. Modi over phone after results started pouring out from across the country.
Mr. Chandrababu congratulated Modi for crushing down the “corrupt and tyrannical rule” of the Congress and wished that the 63-year-old BJP leader would go on to lead India to becoming a super power.
Mr. Modi, in turn, congratulated the TDP chief on his party’s spectacular performance in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Besides Mr. Modi, BJP president Rajnath Singh also called Mr. Chandrababu over phone as trends indicated that the TDP was on the way to form the government in (new) Andhra Pradesh by gaining lead in over 100 Assembly constituencies.
Mr. Chandrababu also congratulated Mr. Rajnath over the BJP and NDA’s performance in the general elections.
Mr. Rajnath reportedly discussed with Mr. Chandrababu the current trends and the possible outcome in both the regions, TDP sources said.
Meanwhile, there is no clarity yet on whether or not the TDP will join the NDA government at the Centre.
“We will discuss the issue in the party and take a decision,” a senior TDP leader said.
In 1999, the TDP had only extended outside support to the NDA government but did not share power.
It, however, took the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post.
There were wide celebrations at Mr. Chandrababu’s residence since morning as trends clearly indicated to a victory for the TDP in Andhra Pradesh.
Actor and Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan, who supported the TDP-BJP combine and campaigned for it, called Mr. Chandrababu and congratulated him over the electoral victory.
Mr. Chandrababu came out of his residence and greeted ecstatic party workers and thanked them for their efforts.
The party workers burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate the victory.