The Hindu : Mixed reaction to TDP-BJP seat-sharing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 19, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Nellore

Mixed reaction to TDP-BJP seat-sharing

By Our Staff Repoter

NELLORE, MARCH 18.

There is a mixed reaction among Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) circles here over the seat-sharing agreement between the BJP and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), resulting in allotment of 27 Assembly and nine Lok Sabha seats for the BJP in the State.

The general feeling among the BJP functionaries here is that the number of seats has fallen short of expectations compared to last time. However, judging by the ongoing `Bharat Uday Yatra' by the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, in Andhra Pradesh and the talks between the party leaders and the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, BJP functionaries expect the constituencies to be finalised after the `final talks' on Friday.

There is suspense over the BJP being allotted the Nellore Assembly or Parliamentary seat for which there is a tussle between the BJP and the TDP, as the latter is also keen on Nellore.

Whatever may be the outcome, there is no denial of the fact that the district BJP is very keen to have Nellore included in the list of seats.

The district BJP president, S. Suresh Reddy, has said that the party cadre will function as `disciplined soldiers' and welcome the initiative taken by the high command.

With regard to the TDP and the Congress circles here, the scene has shifted to Hyderabad with many of the functionaries camping there with their claims. Leaders have also taken a number of followers obviously to impress upon State leaders and are likely to stay in the capital till the suspense is over.

There is a lot of excitement among TDP and BJP about the allotment of seats in view of the entry of a number of aspirants, some of them with good resources. Interestingly, each sitting candidate is expecting ticket this time also, notwithstanding the equal expectation from their opponents. Meanwhile, the Minister for Small Scale Industries, B. Gopalakrishna Reddy, who addressed TDP functionaries here at the party office, on Thursday, asked them to work hard to ensure the party's victory in the coming elections. He dwelt at length on the developmental activities undertaken by the Government.

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Mixed reaction to TDP-BJP seat-sharing