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TDP refuses to desert BJP

Shireen in Hyderabad

There is no change in the Telugu Desam Party's "conditional, issue-based support from outside" to the beleaguered Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government at the Centre, according to party spokesman Umareddy Venkateswarlu.

Venkateswarlu told Rediff On The NeT today that the "political scenario in Delhi is nothing but total confusion" after the President <../../aprwk299.htm#jaya3 target=jaya3>accepted the resignations of the two All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ministers last night.

Elaborating, he said "confusion prevails" because neither the AIADMK nor the Congress or any other opposition party has come out with a clear-cut view on forming an alternative government.

"The Congress, the Left parties and Jayalalitha have not been able to come out with any viable alternative so far. In this scenario, the status quo prevails," he said.

According to Venkateswarlu, "We [the TDP] have been bitterly opposed to the Congress coming to power. That was our stance before the formation of the BJP-led coalition government in 1998. Our stand continues to be the same. We do not want the Congress to grab power. We don't think the Congress is in a position to form an alternative government."

He ruled out any immediate change in his party's stance vis-à-vis the BJP till the situation becomes clearer.

"The question of the Left parties or others wooing the TDP back to the 'third force' does not arise. Let the Congress and others concretise their options first. Only then will the TDP spell out its thinking on these options," he said.

Asked about the speculation that the 'third front' may be offered outside support by the Congress to form the government, he said, "If we go by our earlier experience when the United Front offered the prime minister's post to Jyoti Basu and he declined, this will not happen."

He said there was no possibility of the TDP rejoining the "third front" because of its pro-Congress tilt and the contradictions and squabbles among its constituents.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu continued to consult senior party colleagues on the developments in Delhi. He is understood to have told them that the TDP would like to maintain a low profile at the moment.

While Naidu does not anticipate the immediate fall of the government, he feels it is the responsibility of the BJP leadership to take all possible steps to ensure its survival. The TDP has hardly any role to play in resolving the crisis, but if the government faces a no-confidence motion in Parliament, the party will come to its rescue.

EARLIER REPORT:
TDP sees Congress-AIADMK plot to oust Vajpayee

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