CM Chandrababu Naidu keeps cards close to his chest on TDP siding with TRS

HYDERABAD: Even as speculation is rife over the possibility of the TDP joining hands with the ruling TRS in the state in the 2019 polls, yellow party supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is understood to have preferred to keep his cards close to his chest with regard to his “future” political moves in Telangana.

Not giving any clarity on the TDP’s future stand on moving close with the ruling party in the State, during the meeting with his party leaders from Telangana, held at his residence here on Sunday, according to sources, Naidu asked his party’s TS unit leaders not to openly make any comments on electoral alliances.
“We will think about electoral alliances only during the 2019 polls. Till then, please concentrate on party strengthening activities,” Naidu told his party men in the TS.

Naidu’s “guarded approach” on the issue of possible bonding between TRS and TDP assumes significance as there is a talk in the political circles that some of the seniors in the TDP are suggesting Naidu to side with the pink party in the TS in the 2019 polls so as to improve party’s presence in the new state.

“As TDP’s base has completely eroded in Telangana, post-bifurcation, there is an argument within the party that joining hands with the ruling TRS will improve party’s electoral fortunes in the new State. TRS leadership is also curious about such proposal as CM K Chandrasekhar Rao wants to checkmate the Congress Party’s grand alliance proposal by making TDP align with the pink party,” a TDP senior told Express.

In fact, ongoing differences among party seniors over the issue of whether TDP should join hands with the Congress or the TRS in the 2019 polls, reportedly made Naidu hold an emergency meeting with his party seniors belonging to Telangana at his residence here.  While TDP TS unit working president A Revanth Reddy is in favour of siding with the Congress, party politburo member Mothkupalli Narasimhulu wants the TDP to join hands either with TRS or BJP in the 2019 polls.

Talasani’s presence creates furore among political circles

Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav’s presence near the residence of TDP supremo and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, located at Jubilee Hills here, on Sunday, created a furore among political circles.

When Naidu was busy holding a meeting with with TS-TDP leaders, suddenly Yadav’s convoy of vehicles appeared near the AP CM’s house. This created much curiosity among the TDP cadre as there has been speculation on the possibility of the yellow party joining hands with the TRS by 2019 polls, following Chief Minister KCR’s presence at AP minister Paritala Sunitha’s son marriage, recently held in Anantapur.
When reporters posed a questions on this issue, minister Yadav said he had chosen the route as it was free from traffic. “I have no idea about the presence of Chandrababu Naidu in Hyderabad, today,” he added.