Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu (Photo by Raj K Raj/ Hindustan Times via Getty Images)In a first since its formation in 1982, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has decided to not contest the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, reports Economic Times.
The report cited TDP sources as saying that in order to avoid helping the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party, the party has decided to withdraw from the contest. They alleged that TRS has always tried to make sure that the TDP does not exist as a party in Telangana.
The TDP also had a poor show during the recently concluded assembly elections wherein it managed to win just two seats while in an alliance with the Congress and CPI.
According to the report, the TDP has substantially weakened in Telangana in the last few years due to large number of its leaders switching over to the TRS. The latest TDP leader to join TRS was Nama Nageshwara Rao, who would reportedly have been the party candidate from the Khammam constituency. Rao is now the TRS nominee from Khammam in the Lok Sabha elections.
On the other hand, TDP has been opposing the BJP since its exit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on the issue of special status to Andhra.
As per the report, the TDP sources said that the party has in principle agreed to Congress’ request for support in the parliamentary polls.
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