TDP, BJP poll deal likely today - TeluguPeople.com News

HYDERABAD: The unending cat and mouse game between the TDP and the BJP seems to have reached a final stage and both are likely to announce their alliance Saturday.

However, the drama between the two over seat-sharing touched a new high on Friday with the TDP first sending feelers to the media that it would announce its first list of candidates late evening and then, backing off at the behest of the BJP central leadership.

Sources said both sides have reached an agreement on the Assembly and Lok Sabha seats in Telangana but an amicable solution on seat-sharing in Seemandhra is still some way off. Despite this, both appear to have decided to announce the alliance at the earliest, most likely Saturday, as the last date for filing nominations in Telangana (April 9) is fast approaching.

Sources said miffed with the BJP's attitude, the TDP leadership sought to release its first list of candidates for Telangana on Friday night as a 'pressure tactic.' Party leaders let it be known that their chief N Chandrababu Naidu would release the list around 8 p.m. only to retract later in the night.

'The BJP central leadership has asked Naidu to defer releasing the list till Saturday. It informed him that it would announce its final decision on alliance and seat-adjustments on Saturday,' a TDP leader said.

According to party insiders, BJP president Rajnath Singh spoke to Naidu and assured him that a final decision would be taken by Saturday. 'BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar is expected in Hyderabad on Saturday to hold a final round of talks,' a senior TDP leader said.

BJP's Telangana unit chief G Kishan Reddy also said, 'Our party leadership has in-principle decided to have alliance with the TDP. Senior leaders Arun Jaitley and Prakash Javadekar are in touch with the TDP.'

According to him, Telangana BJP unit wants 50 Assembly and nine LS seats, whereas the Seemandhra BJP unit is demanding 20 Assembly and six LS seats. He said talks on about 30 Assembly seats are over.

'We are in the process of settling the issue in the remaining,' Reddy said. Naidu's first list threat came after the BJP played its own 'pressure tactic.'

According to sources, peeved over the TDP's unwillingness to concede ground, the BJP's Telangana leadership asked its candidates to file nominations in their respective constituencies. On Friday, BJP leaders from Mahabubnagar district filed nominations.

Similarly, senior leader NVVS Prabhakar filed his nomination from Uppal Assembly constituency.

As far as seat-sharing in Seemandhra is concerned, both parties are still at loggerheads over Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam LS seats. TDP is willing to give Rajampet, Tirupati and Narasapuram instead of Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Expressing displeasure over the TDP's offer, Seemandhra BJP chief K Haribabu said, 'We are in favour of alliance. If it does not materialise, we are ready to go it alone. We have told our party cadres to be ready for any situation'.

BJP leaders file nominations

BJP's T leadership has told its leaders to file nominations and accordingly, some in Mahbubnagar district filed their papers on Friday as did NVVS Prabhakar at Uppal. Perhaps, in retaliation, TDP sought to release its first list.

Meanwhile, both TDP and BJP camps are yet to come to a common understanding on seat-sharing, leading to confusion among the rank and file of both the parties. While, TDP is willing to concede Rajampet, Tirupati and Narasapuram as replacement, the saffron party is not ready to accept them.