VIJAYAWADA: Will there be poll alliance between the TDP and the Congress in Andhra Pradesh in 2019 elections? Going by Thursday’s developments and the bonhomie on display between Congress president Rahul Gandhi and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, it appears all but certain.
TDP leaders in the State tried their best to clarify that “as of now” there is no such proposal as the party is focused on stitching together an anti-BJP front at the Centre. The “as of now” is a clear giveaway. But the alliance between the once arch-rivals may not be that easy in the State.
A section of leaders in both the TDP and the Congress have been at daggers drawn right from the inception of the yellow party back in the early 1980s and for them, it is a bitter pill to swallow. Congress leader Vatti Vasanth Kumar on Thursday said that he had resigned from the party.
“I am deeply hurt at this alliance. We have been working against the TDP since 1983! How are we supposed to tell our supporters to work with those against whom we have fought tooth and nail till date? Hence I resigned,” he said.
Other senior leaders like C Ramachandraiah are also reportedly upset. Nonetheless, some other Congress leaders are upbeat at the turn of events. They hope alliance with TDP will help revive the party that has been uprooted by the people lock, stock and barrel following the division of the State in 2014. In fact, reliable sources told TNIE that talks are already underway between the two sides with the grand old party bargaining for at least six MP seats and 20-25 MLA seats. However, the talks are still in the initial stage and Naidu’s Delhi diplomacy is just a starter, they pointed out.
In the TDP camp too, there are two sections. One, supportive of Naidu’s strategy and the other flummoxed. Those in favour are convinced much like Naidu that since 2019 is going to be a triangular contest between the TDP, YSRC and Jana Sena, it would be difficult to go it alone. The TDP, under Naidu, has always entered the poll fray in alliance with other parties -- be it the Left, BJP or others. This time, the Left parties in the State are more or less aligned with actor Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena. Facing anti-incumbency, tough opponents in Pawan and YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, besides a seemingly vindictive BJP, it appears Naidu and company are convinced that sailing with Congress is the only option. The TDP top brass, sources said, hope that whatever little vote share the Congress may still have will come in handy. Not to speak of the Congress support at the Centre at a time when the Modi regime has unleashed I-T, ED and other agencies on party leaders.
When contacted, a senior TDP leader on condition of anonymity, told TNIE, “The TDP is already a part of the Grand Alliance led by the Congress in Telangana and now our leader met with the AICC chief and underscored the need for bringing the Congress and other anti-BJP parties together. This indicates that the TDP is ready for an alliance with the Congress in AP in the coming elections and in the meantime, we have to convince our leaders as well as the people. It is true that there are some leaders who have voiced concerns over an alliance with the Congress.” Similarly, Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy suggested that alliance with Congress would not be problematic in the State, pointing out that it is in the interest of the State and the nation.
APCC vice-president N Tulasi Reddy termed the Rahul-Naidu meet historic. “In fact, it is wrong to say that TDP was born to fight against the Congress. As Congress was in power at the time, such a theory was believed. And, this is not the first time that TDP and Congress have joined hands. When former PM PV Narasimha Rao contested from Nandyal, the then TDP president NT Rama Rao did not field any candidate. TDP was also a part of the United Front government formed with the support of the Congress,” he reasoned.