- By Vivek Raj
- Sat, 09 Mar 2024 06:53 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Lok Sabha elections are around the corner and parties have intensified mulling their poll prospects. On Saturday, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan held discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and has finalised the seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.
"Andhra Pradesh has been destroyed badly. The BJP and the TDP coming together is a win-win situation for the country and the state," Naidu said.
According to reports, in the alliance covering both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the BJP leadership has agreed to Naidu's proposal on seat sharing. Under the arrangement, Naidu has offered 30 assembly and 8 Lok Sabha seats to his allies. The Jana Sena, already a member of the BJP-led NDA is set to contest for 24 assembly and 3 Lok Sabha seats, while the BJP will receive 5 Lok Sabha and 6 assembly seats, while the TDP contesting the remaining seats.
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Once a key member of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) until 2018, the TDP is now exploring the possibility of reviving the alliance. The talks, held in New Delhi, primarily centered on resolving crucial issues related to seat distribution, with both parties indicating a willingness to collaborate.
The YSR Congress Party, led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, dominated both elections five years ago, winning 22 of the state's 25 Lok Sabha seats and 151 of its 175 Assembly segments. The BJP, contesting independently, failed to secure any seats in either election.
While an alliance with state parties may not drastically alter the outcome for the saffron party, it could bolster its overall performance and contribute to achieving the ‘Abki Bar 400 Par’ electoral targets set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Congress, similarly defeated, has already come into agreement with YS Sharmila, the Chief Minister's sister, and granting her control of its state unit.
A formal announcement regarding the inclusion of the TDP in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected soon from the office of J.P. Nadda.