The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had requested 10 seats for the Lok Sabha, while the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was willing to offer 4-5 seats. It is possible that the Jana Sena, which is in alliance with the TDP, could secure 3 out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
New Delhi: TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan are currently staying in Delhi to finalize the seat-sharing arrangement with the BJP. Following their meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, it is understood that the TDP has proposed to give 5-6 seats to the BJP in the Lok Sabha and around 10-11 seats in the Assembly. Initially, the BJP had requested 10 seats for the Lok Sabha, while the TDP was offering 4-5 seats. Additionally, the Jana Sena, which is in alliance with the TDP, may receive 3 Lok Sabha seats out of the 25 in the state. TDP leader and Rajya Sabha MP K Ravindra Kumar stated that the three parties have agreed in principle to contest the upcoming elections together. “In principle, the BJP, TDP, and Jana Sena have decided to work together,” he said.
Further discussions may be held to resolve any differences and finalize the arrangements. This would signify the TDP’s return to the NDA’s alliance after six years, following their departure due to disagreements over the Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh. For the BJP, this alliance could provide an opportunity to make inroads into the Telugu heartland, which is crucial as they aim for 370 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The TDP, on the other hand, aims to challenge YS Jagan’s influence in the state, particularly since his party has been perceived as being close to the BJP.
