TDP, BJP almost ready to clinch a deal
HYDERABAD: The TDP and BJP are still locked in talks on seat-sharing in Telangana even after considerably toning down their war of words. BJP senior leader Prakash Javadekar, who arrived in Hyderabad Thursday, was closeted with TDP Rajya Sabha member Sujana Chowdhary but they have not yet come to an agreement.
According to BJP sources, an announcement on seat-sharing may not be possible even Friday. 'May be, by day after tomorrow both sides may cement a deal,' they said.
The TDP, after expressing shock over the BJP's demand for 60 Assembly and eight Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, is now prepared to offer it up to 45 Assembly and eight Lok Sabha seats.
The parliamentary seats offered are: Chevella, Karimnagar, Malkajgiri, Mahabubnagar, Medak, Warangal, Nizamabad and Bhongir but the BJP wants more Assembly seats.
The BJP leaders are refusing to budge arguing that the TDP needs them more in Telangana. The ongoing talks have had some leaders who joined the BJP in Andhra worried.
With the party demanding 60 Assembly seats from the TDP in Telangana, they fear the talks may even derail ' that would mean they may not stand a good chance of winning in Seemandhra where the BJP needs TDP support.
As it is the BJP does not have any base in Seemandhra and secondly, as it is seen as a 'partner in crime' over division of the state, the stock of the party is at its lowest point in the region.
In Seemandhra, there might not be any problem on seat-sharing but for it to happen, a poll deal has to be clinched in Telangana first. In Seemandhra, the BJP would be glad with whatever number of seats the TDP offers.
But they want at least five Lok Sabha seats and they may not be ready to compromise on that figure. One BJP leader said: 'We need LS seats and the TDP, Assembly seats. The alliance will materialise in Andhra but before that, the Telangana tangle has to be resolved.'
News Posted: 28 March, 2014
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