The Telangana Rashtra Samiti's overtures to BJP has raised hackles of another 'Telugu ally', the TDP. The N Chandrababu-led regional party, which has had an on-off relationship with BJP since 1998, has said it would not be a part of NDA if TRS is given a place in the national alliance.
TDP Rajya Sabha MP CM Ramesh told ET: “BJP and TDP have fought together and are together. How can BJP be with TDP in one state (Andhra Pradesh) and with TRS in another state (Telangana)? BJP cannot ride two horses. If they are with TRS then they would have to leave TDP .“
TRS chief and Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. Rao has been complaining about paucity of funds in Telangana as compared to Andhra Pradesh. TRS feels joining NDA could solve the new state's financial woes. Though TRS has been giving indications that it would soon join NDA and Rao's daughter K Kavitha would get a berth in the central minsitry , there has been no such suggestion from BJP .
Ramesh, who is considered close to Naidu, dismissed the recent meeting saying, “no senior BJP leader has said anything. The chief minister has met the prime minister a number of times before this as well. KCR is looking to form an alliance with BJP. Anybody might want to marry the prince but the king needs to agree. It seems like a figment of KCR's imagination.“
TDP provided outside support to NDA from 1998 to 2004 and had helped Atal Bihari Vajpayee become Prime Minister. However, Naidu expressed regret in supporting NDA after his party was routed in the 2004 polls. Naidu thought that the Gujarat riots was responsible for the party's rout. After the creation of Telangana, TDP joined the NDA.
Source: Economic Times
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