This Article is From Apr 22, 2014

In show of unity, Chandrababu Naidu to join Narendra Modi on Telangana campaign trail

In show of unity, Chandrababu Naidu to join Narendra Modi on Telangana campaign trail
Hyderabad: Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, will address four meetings in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh today.

Ally Chandrababu Naidu, who heads the Telugu Desam Party, will join him at two of those.

An elaborate attempt to demonstrate that all is well in the high-stakes relationship is expected. ('It's rocking,' says BJP about alliance with Chandrababu Naidu)

Through an uneasy courtship, Chandrababu Naidu has attempted to pitch his alliance with the BJP as a coming together of two progressive leaders.

"I want to join hands with Narendra Modi as both of us are branded as pro-development persons. Under our leadership, I am confident that we will put India on the world map,'' he said recently. (Read: BJP announces alliance with Chandrababu Naidu's TDP)

But as the top leaders put up a show of unity in Telanagana today, there are unresolved issues in Seemandhra, the other part of the state.

The TDP candidates who have filed nominations in three constituencies -- Santhanutalapadu, Kadapa and Kaikalur -- which the BJP has been allotted in their seat-sharing plan, are yet to withdraw. The last date to do so is tomorrow; the Seemandhra regions vote on May 7.

Last week, the freshly minted alliance threatened to come apart over seats allocated to the BJP where the TDP said weak candidates had been fielded by the party and that would affect the latter's chances in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. (India Votes 2014: full coverage)

TDP leaders insist there is no rebellion, but say they will talk with each other and resolve the issue internally, and they expect the BJP to compromise.

But Prakash Javdekar, BJP spokesperson, said unambiguously, "The seats allocated to the BJP will be fought by the BJP and those allocated to the TDP will be fought by TDP candidates. The parties will take action against rebels where necessary". (TDP-BJP alliance:
Top 10 developments)

The two parties clinched the partnership after days of negotiations, overriding protests from local leaders. It is seen as a masterstroke that could win the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance a rich haul in Seemandhra, the regions that will form residuary Andhra Pradesh when a Telangana state is carved out of it.
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