News Brief
BJP, TDP, Jana Sena 'Almost' Finalise Seat-Sharing Agreement For Andhra Pradesh: Report
PM Narendra Modi and Chandrababu Naidu (Representative Image) (Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has concluded seat-sharing deals with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Jana Sena Party (Jana Sena), as reported by NDTV on Friday evening (8 March).
The BJP is reportedly set to contest six to eight Lok Sabha seats and 10 to 12 assembly seats, while the Jana Sena is likely to receive three Lok Sabha and 24 assembly seats.
The remaining constituencies will be contested by the TDP.
The alliance aims to challenge the dominance of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party, which secured a landslide victory in the previous elections, winning a majority of Lok Sabha and assembly seats.
In 2014, in an alliance with the TDP, the BJP had contested nearly 12 MLA seats and four MP seats.
Jana Sena was also part of the alliance, but did not contest the elections.
Speaking on the matter, a BJP leader pointed out: "The TDP cadre might not support its alliance partners in places like Rajampet, Vijayawada, and Hindupur as we have a meagre presence. Going by various equations, giving away a seat like Vijayawada to the BJP is like allowing YSRC to win."
Meanwhile, TDP sources said that with the BJP securing some MLA and MP seats, dissidence within the party might peak in the coming days.
Notably, until 2018, the TDP played a pivotal role in the national alliance led by the BJP.
However, the dynamics shifted when Naidu, then serving as chief minister, decided to part ways, citing unmet demands for a special status.
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