Chandrababu Naidu, leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). This assertion comes amidst speculation that opposition leaders are attempting to entice him into the INDIA bloc, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to form the NDA government on Saturday.
Naidu’s comments followed his participation in a crucial meeting at Prime Minister Modi’s residence on Thursday, where discussions centered on government formation. “It was a good meeting,” Naidu remarked as he left the gathering.
When questioned about TDP’s allegiance, Naidu firmly stated, “How can we contest elections if we are not a part of the NDA? We fought this collectively. Why you got that doubt, I don’t know.”
2024 Lok Sabha Polls Mandate
The recent Lok Sabha elections saw the BJP falling short of a majority, securing 240 seats in the 543-member Parliament—32 seats shy of the halfway mark. However, with the support of its allies, the NDA amassed 293 seats, surpassing the 272-seat majority needed. In contrast, the INDIA bloc won 234 seats.
Naidu and Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar have emerged as pivotal figures, or “kingmakers,” in this political scenario. Their attendance at the NDA meeting was a positive signal for the BJP ahead of Modi’s scheduled oath ceremony on Saturday. It is reported that both leaders have provided written support to Prime Minister Modi, dispelling any rumors about potential shifts in allegiance.
Other prominent NDA allies, including Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, Janasena’s Pawan Kalyan, LJP’s Chirag Paswan, and NCP’s Praful Patel, also attended the meeting, where they collectively endorsed Modi as the leader of the alliance.
