YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has already clarified that his party would go it alone in the next elections and will contest all the 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. As such, there is no question of any alliance with any other party.
Jagan also clarified several times categorically that his party would support only that party or alliance at the Centre which would give it in writing that it would grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
Yet, the Telugu Desam Party leaders have been making allegations that Jagan was hand in glove with the BJP and would join the NDA sooner or later.
Lending credence to these allegations, Union minister for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale, who represents Republican Party of India in the NDA, extended an open invitation to Jagan to join the NDA.
Speaking to media in Hyderabad, Athawale said Jagan had the bright chances of becoming the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, if he joined hands with the BJP and became partner in the NDA. He went on to say that YSR Congress and the BJP combine would do well in the next elections.
“Our party will give full support to Jagan if he joins hands with the BJP,” he said.
Athawale described TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s decision to come out of the NDA as a hasty move.
“Had he continued in the NDA and brought pressure on the Centre, the state would have got the special category status to AP,” he said.
Within minutes of Athawale making the statement, Naidu told media that the Union minister had only disclosed an underhand dealing between the BJP and the YSRC.
“I am not surprised by his statement,” he said.
