According to insider information, the proposed arrangement for seat allocation entails dividing the electoral seats in Andhra Pradesh among the key political entities. This includes earmarking 18 seats for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), granting two seats to the Jana Sena party led by actor Pawan Kalyan, and allocating five seats to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by Chandrababu Naidu, is reportedly on the verge of rejoining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), as per sources familiar with the matter disclosed to India Today TV. The anticipated announcement of TDP's reunion with the NDA is pending resolution of negotiations over seat distribution, a critical aspect of the formal alliance discussions.
Insiders from both the BJP and TDP camps have indicated that the official declaration of TDP's re-entry into the NDA fold is expected to precede the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Key to finalizing the alliance is the negotiation over seat-sharing, involving TDP, and BJP, and taking into account the interests of the Jana Sena party, headed by actor Pawan Kalyan, as per the sources.
In Andhra Pradesh, where simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are scheduled this year, the proposed seat allocation formula suggests the TDP receiving 18 seats, the Jana Sena securing two seats, and the BJP being allocated five seats.
With Andhra Pradesh contributing 25 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP is reportedly eyeing contesting on approximately six to eight seats in the upcoming elections.
Notably, the TDP had previously aligned with the NDA during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, before the formal bifurcation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh. During that election cycle, the BJP contested and won three seats out of the 42 seats in the undivided Andhra Pradesh state.
However, in 2018, the TDP withdrew from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which had consequential effects on its electoral performance in the 2019 elections, where it secured only three Lok Sabha seats.
Subsequently, the TDP ceded control in the state to the YSR Congress, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, which has generally aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on significant matters over the past five years.
Recent developments, including Chandrababu Naidu's meetings with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J P Nadda in New Delhi, have sparked speculation about the TDP's potential return to the NDA fold.
Should Naidu decide to rejoin the NDA, it would mark the second significant regional party to do so after Janata Dal (United) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's departure from the Mahagathbandhan alliance to align with the BJP-led coalition last month.
