TDP may finally come around

The whole of today, the government was in constant touch with Naidu through Defence Minister George Fernandes and Iamp;B Minister Pramod Mahajan. Prime Minister A B Vajpayee also spoke to the TDP chief last night. 8220;We are confident of a positive response,8221; said partyvice-president J P Mathur.In Hyderabad, after long meetings with party leaders and ministers, Naidu is understood to have suggested that he would back the Government8217;s motion. TDP insiders said that despite the party8217;s strong opposition to Article 356, it didn8217;t want Congress to take any advantage if the motion falls through in the Lok Sabha.

Top BJP leaders, who are in regular touch with Naidu, are understood to have told him that a defeat in the Lok Sabha might even result in mid-term elections which could benefit the Congress. 8220;We are not afraid of elections but we do not want to take any decision that will benefit the Congress in any way,8221; party spokesman Ummareddy Venkateswarlu told The Indian Express.Also, the TDP will have the consolation that its decision to support the Bill in the Lok Sabha will in no way help continue President8217;s rule in Bihar.