Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan will arrive in Delhi on Thursday to meet BJP central leadership to decide on the potential alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, according to reports.
There has been talk of a triparty alliance between the regional parties and BJP for some time. The leaders of TDP are enthusiastic about the alliance as it would give it a renewed vigour to fight the YSR Congress in the elections.
Though several meetings were held between the parties, they have yet to iron out creases. Last month, Naidu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda in Delhi to discuss the electoral alliance but no decision was taken.
On Wednesday, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan called on Naidu at the latter’s residence at Tadepalli. They reportedly held discussions on the sharing of seats with the BJP in case an alliance is struck. A little later, Naidu received a call from Delhi, requesting his presence in Delhi for talks.
BJP State Unit chief D Purandeswari too is also in Delhi to meet the party's high command and she is likely to help decide on the number of seats the party will contest.
As per speculations, of the state's 25 Lok Sabha seats, the TDP has agreed to give the BJP four seats, but the BJP wants to field candidates on at least 10 seats while Jana Sena will contest on three seats. For Assembly elections, BJP would seek at least 15 seats. "The party will settle for no less than six Lok Sabha seats. It is confident that it can win at least two to three seats in the State," BJP sources told The New Indian Express.
The TDP had an alliance with the BJP but snapped it in 2018. Though the party tried to revive the ties, the BJP's reaction was less than enthusiastic as it had warm relations with the Jagan government. The YSR Congress had supported BJP in Parliament in passing several key bills.
