BJP tie-up dented minority vote: TDP

Naidu said he was ‘‘anguished’’ by the post-Godhra riots and had asked for the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, which the BJP had rejected. In protest, his party had refused to accept the Lok Sabha speakership after the death of TDP incumbent G M C Balayogi, he said.

On whether he would join hands with Left parties and constituents of the erstwhile United Front for a new third front, Naidu said: ‘‘Whenever somebody fails and there is a political vaccum, it will emerge.’’

On the TDP’s decision to attend Parliament despite the NDA boycott, Naidu said his party supported the BJP-led alliance on the issue of sacking tainted ministers but, ‘‘We need to discuss issues in Parliament.’’

‘‘We have no relations with BJP. Whenever there were common issues, we supported. Sometimes, we even differed,’’ said Naidu.

Launching a scathing attack on Rajasekhar Reddy’s Andhra government, Naidu said it has failed to keep its pre-poll promises and vowed to fight its ‘‘anti-people policies’’.

Accusing the Reddy government of resorting to vindictive killings, he said the law and order situation in the state had collapsed.

Naidu said the state government needs to explain why it failed to carry forward the much-hyped dialogue with Naxalites. ‘‘We fully backed the government which promised to hold talks with Maoists for a permanent peace,’’ said Naidu.

Nadu’s admission comes hot on the heels of Naidu’s decision last week to end support to the BJP-led boycott of Parliament. TDP sources said Naidu might announce the severing of ties with the BJP during the maha nadu, or state executive meet, to be held from May 28 to May 30.

Events and announcements in the last couple of days seem to have the TDP in a flutter — the CPI(M), Naidu’s one-time ally in the Third Front, has sent him a favourable message by denouncing the move to create the state of Telengana. Soon after Naidu’s decision to oppose the NDA-sponsored Opposition boycott of Parliament, NDA convenor George Fernandes reiterated the BJP’s support for the creation of Telangana.

Then there was BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan’s signed article in a party magazine, expressing the BJP’s regret at not being able to build the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, which the TDP opposes. ‘‘We totally oppose Hindutva, we are committed to secularism and harmony among all communities. We are for resolution of the Ayodhya dispute through the judicial process and the court verdict must be respected by all,’’ said Naidu.