Bharatiya Janata Party national leadership, which is holding the crucial meeting of 38 alliance partners of National Democratic Alliance in New Delhi on Tuesday, has turned a blind-eye towards its erstwhile political ally, the Telugu Desam Party headed by former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu.
The TDP, which has been desperately trying to get back into the BJP fold, as it needs the Centre’s help to take on YSR Congress party led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2024 assembly elections, waited for a last-minute call from the saffron party for the NDA meeting.
However, when there was no message from Delhi till midnight on Monday, the TDP is learnt to have lost its hope of restoring the ties with the BJP. Yet, the party leadership hopes that the BJP might change its mind as the elections approach.
“The elections are still nine months away. So, there is no hurry to participate in any of these meetings. Things will change dramatically as the polls approach,” a TDP leader told a digital media reporter.
The TDP leader was quoted as saying that the party, in fact, does not gain much politically by allying with the BJP which has little presence or influence in Andhra Pradesh, but the alliance would definitely help the TDP in electioneering and poll management.
Interestingly, interacting with the media in New Delhi on Monday night, BJP national president J P Nadda said it was for the erstwhile allies to decide on coming back to the NDA.
“Whether it is the TDP or some other former alliance partner of the NDA – it is for them to take a call on what they want,” he said.
It means, the BJP has thrown the ball into the court of the TDP to join the NDA or not. Apparently, it wants an open statement from Naidu to apologise for quitting the NDA in the past and express its willingness to return to the BJP fold.
So, there is no scope for backdoor politicking for Naidu. He has to make or break the alliance with the NDA openly!
