Political temperatures rise as tripartite alliance readies to take on solo YSRCP

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh is not only experiencing an early onset of summer but also sudden increase in political temperatures following the formalisation of an alliance by Bharatiya Janata Party with the Telugu Desam Party-Jana Sena Party combine for the upcoming simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assembly.

Though the joint statement issued by BJP State president JP Nadda in Delhi on Saturday evening brought curtains down over prolonged speculation in the political circles and the media, the decision has led to trading of charges among the supporters and detractors of the tripartite alliance. The three-party alliance now challenges the claims of ruling YSRCP on 'why not 175/25. The call given by the Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for defeating all their rivals in all Assembly and Lok Sabha seats. YSRCP registered wins in 22 Lok Sabha and 151 Assembly constituencies in 2019 general elections in which BJP contested alone and drew in a blank.

Post-alliance announcement, which had hogged the limelight in the media headlines and TV channel debates in both the Telugu-speaking States may also benefit BJP in Telangana where the TDP and the JSP have promised its central leadership to extend wholehearted support. In the Assembly elections held sometime ago, JSP and BJP had a poll pact while TDP following the arrest of its national president N Chandrababu Naidu in the skill development diversion of funds scam had opted to not field any candidate.

The activists of TDP-JSP-BJP celebrated the announcement of alliance across the State by dancing and distributing sweets. There is buzz that a joint rally will be held by the three parties at Chilakaluripeta near Guntur on March 17.

Naidu said on X: "The TDP is committed to the development of Andhra Pradesh and the welfare of the Telugu people, former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Saturday after finalising alliance with BJP."

He said the alliance between BJP, TDP and JSP isn't just an alliance but rather a partnership between three stakeholders committed to serving Andhra Pradesh and the country.

"I'm confident that the people of AP will bless this alliance with a historic mandate to serve them. Together, we shall herald a golden era of growth and prosperity for our State," he said. The TDP supremo said: "'I'm pleased to rejoin NDA today. Together with @PawanKalyan Garu, I look forward to working with Hon'ble PM @narendramodi Ji, Hon’ble HM @AmitShah Ji, and BJP President @JPNadda Ji to form a people’s government in Andhra Pradesh and ushering in a new era of development."

Pawan Kalyan said, "The fundamental purpose of this historic alliance of BJP-TDP-JSP is to give hope, stability and prosperity to people of AP. Under dynamic, daring and visionary leadership of PM Shri@narendramodi ji, we all will be working as responsible stakeholders who will put our best efforts to make AP into a vibrant and robust State in every possible way." The leaders of the three parties described the alliance as a necessity to dislodge the YSRCP government and to ensure a 'double engine ki sarkaar.’ Former Minister and senior TDP leader Ganta Srinivasa Rao said the alliance will also ensure much-needed support to the State in launching several mega infrastructure projects and development of Amaravati as the futuristic capital of Andhra Pradesh.

BJP State president Daggubati Purundeswari said the alliance will further strengthen the hands of PM Modi. YSRCP general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy termed the alliance as opportunistic and demanded an explanation from Naidu as to why he walked out of NDA in 2018 and decided to return to the alliance after six years.