TDP, which was in a state of confusion on whom it should support in Telangana, has finally announced its support to the BJP, with which it has an alliance in Andhra Pradesh as well.
Hitherto, the BJP has not made any attempt to seek the support of the TDP in Telangana.
In fact, state BJP president G Kishan Reddy declared that the party would go alone in Telangana polls and would not seek the support of any party.
This led to the talk that the TDP might be extending support to the Congress led by chief minister A Revanth Reddy, because of the close links between him and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu.
All said and done, the TDP has some vote bank in Telangana, particularly in the areas where there are settlers.
Lending credence to the talk, Congress leaders in Khammam district led by state information minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy went to the TDP office in Khammam a week ago and sought the support of the yellow party to the Congress. The TDP leaders in Khammam appear to have given a positive signal.
But on Tuesday, the Khammam TDP leaders extended full support to BJP candidate Tandra Vinod Rao in the coming elections.
At the behest of the party high command, the TDP district unit in a crucial meeting announced the decision.
“Being a NDA partner, it is our responsibility to ensure the victory of Tandra Vinod Rao,” TTDP Khammam district president Dr Vasireddy Ramanatham said.
Later BJP and TDP leaders took part in “Kamma Aatmeeya Sammelanam” and called upon people to defeat Congress. Vinod Rao thanked TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu for the decision.
In Hyderabad, too, the TDP leaders in Khairatabad announced their support to the BJP candidate in Secunderabad parliamentary constituency G Kishan Reddy.
Several TDP leaders had a meeting with ex-MLA Chintala Ramachandra Reddy and extended their support.
Apparently, the TDP leadership has taken the decision to support the BJP in Telangana as well, after the successful meetings of Narendra Modi in Andhra.