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TDP, BJP in for turbulent times ahead with alliance

Both parties hit by resignations and growing protests among members

The pre-poll alliance between the BJP and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has triggered waves of resentment in both the parties with some BJP leaders in Telangana and TDP leader in Seemandhra worried about their prospects in the coming simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Assembly.

Both parties were faced with some resignations in the aftermath of the seat-sharing agreement and protests by party cadres continued in the state. BJP Warangal district unit president A. Ashok Reddy gave the first shock with his announcement that he was quitting the party in protest against the alliance, while Zahid Ali Khan, a TDP politburo member, also shot off a resignation letter to party president N. Chandrababu Naidu. “I am pained that a secular party like the TDP has struck an electoral alliance with a communal party like the BJP. I joined the TDP because of its secular credentials,” he said, adding that the TDP’s support to the BJP would only strengthen the hands of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi “who is responsible for the Gujarat riots”.

Several BJP leaders and cadres in Telangana believe that the party has an edge in the region and any tie-up with the TDP, which is seen as an anti-Telangana party, would only hamper the chances of the BJP, which had supported the bifurcation bill in parliament.

Similarly, TDP leaders and cadres in several parts of Seemandhra believe that their party had good prospects in the region particularly in view of the public perception that a Chandrababu Naidu-led administration might be the best bet for development of Seemandhra once the state’s division comes into effect on June 2. The BJP, which has been for the state’s division all through, is being seen as a traitor party and only interested in taking advantage of the situation with a tie-up.

Given the turbulent situation, and the fact that the constituencies that would be allotted to the BJP are not yet out in the open officially, it appears that both the parties are in for a bumpy ride in the days ahead. Once the constituencies’ allocation is announced, there may be a big surge in dissension with a high possibility of rebel candidates from both parties entering the fray as independent candidates.

The TDP, however, has been trying to put up a brave front stating that the alliance would cause a political tsunami in the state in which the other parties would get completely washed away. “The Congress and the YSR Congress are worried that our alliance will cause a political tsunami in which they are bound to get washed away. Hence they are dubbing our alliance as unholy,” senior TDP leader and politburo member Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said.

Stating that development and transparent administration was the common focus between the two parties, he said: “People believe in the spotless leadership of Modi and Naidu. The two leaders have the ability to ensure stable and corruption-free governance.”

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