SP, TDP join cause against UPA

Later, talking to the media, Naidu declared that both secular formations (TDP and SP) were faced with common problems. The Third Alternative was thus the only means left to combat the Congress and the BJP.

On India’s vote against Iran’s nuclear programme, Naidu and Mulayam slammed the UPA government for succumbing to US pressure, and said non-alignment had been annexed by American hegemony. Mulayam said the UPA government’s decision had isolated India. ‘‘Silence on our part will not be in the country’s interest,’’ he said.

Naidu said the TDP would support the no-confidence motion against the UPA government on the Iran issue, which is to be brought by the Samajwadi Party in the budget session of Parliament.

However, even as Naidu pledged support to Mulayam on the no-confidence motion, the UP chief minister ducked a query on withdrawing support to the Congress-led government at the Centre, saying only that ‘‘the Samajwadi Party’s future strategy would be decided at its national executive meeting’’.

The misuse of the governor’s office also figured prominently in the SP-TDP deliberations. Calling for a national debate on the role of governors, the TDP president said the Raj Bhawans had been reduced to Pradesh Congress Committee offices and attacked the Congress for using governors to dismiss duly elected governments.

‘‘From Andhra Pradesh, where Ram Lal dismissed NTR’s government, to West Bengal, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Goa, and now in Bihar, the Congress has misused the governor’s office to serve its political cause,’’ he said.