Naidu bats for Third Front

Says TDP will speak to like-minded parties

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which was instrumental in bringing a Third Front government at the Centre barring Congress and the BJP -- National Front in 1989 and United Front in 1996 -- would again try for such an alternative in the next Lok Sabha poll.

“We will speak to like-minded parties and work out plans,” Mr. Naidu told journalists here on Thursday after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of various parties like Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), Sharad Yadav (JD-U), H.D. Deve Gowda (JD-S) and Sharad Pawar (NCP) on providing 33.3 per cent reservation for BCs in the Assembly/Lok Sabha seats. He wanted their help for introduction of a Bill in this regard in Parliament.

The TDP leader said there was no question of change in the anti-Congress and anti-BJP stance of the party. “We are very clear in this regard. We will explore all the possibilities of bringing in a third alternative government at the Centre. We attempted thrice (including 2009 Lok Sabha poll) of which TDP had succeeded twice,” he said.

On the coalgate scam, he said Dr. Singh should first cancel all the coal block allocations and order a thorough inquiry.

The Prime Minister, as the head of the government, was morally responsible for the functioning of all the departments.

Hyderabad Special Correspondent adds: In a surprise move, a group of Telangana Congress MPs met Mr. Naidu and believed to have impressed upon him the need for sending a letter to the Centre, reiterating his party’s support to separate Telangana.

When he met the Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar along with party MPs and senior leaders to highlight the drought situation, he was surprised to know that the State government has not yet submitted a report. The delegation also pointed to the problems faced by the farmers especially shortage of fertilizers.

Mr. Naidu wound up his two-day visit to Delhi by asserting that the party would strive for making its ‘BC declaration’, a national agenda. It should serve as a model for political empowerment of BCs all over the country.