Chandrababu Naidu, positioned as one of the kingmakers following the recent elections, has reiterated that his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) remains a steadfast member of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Amid speculations of opposition attempts to sway him towards the INDIA bloc, Naidu’s assertion comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anticipated government formation on Saturday.
Participating in a crucial meeting at Prime Minister Modi’s residence, Chandrababu Naidu expressed optimism, describing the discussions as fruitful. Addressing queries about TDP’s alliance status, he emphasized the collective effort in contesting elections, dismissing any doubts about the party’s allegiance to the NDA.
The Lok Sabha elections saw the BJP falling short of a majority, securing 240 seats in the 543-member Parliament. However, with the support of its allies, the NDA surpassed the 272 mark, clinching 293 seats compared to the INDIA bloc’s 234.
Chandrababu Naidu and Janata Dal United leader Nitish Kumar, both seasoned coalition politicians, have emerged as pivotal figures in the current political landscape. Their participation in the NDA meeting signals solidarity with the BJP ahead of Saturday’s oath ceremony.
Reports suggest that Naidu and Kumar have provided written support to PM Modi, amidst speculations of opposition attempts to engage them in forming an alternative government.
In addition to Naidu and Kumar, other NDA partners including Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, Janasena’s Pawan Kalyan, LJP’s Chirag Paswan, and NCP’s Praful Patel attended the meeting. They collectively endorsed PM Modi as the leader of the alliance, further solidifying the NDA’s unity.