TDP rules out any ties with BJP-led NDA

Hyderabad, Sep 5 (UNI) The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a constituent of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), today ruled out any revival of ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

''There is no question of my party aligning with the communal BJP,'' TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu maintained at a press conference here organised to announce the party's month-long mass contact programme, which begins tomorrow.

The programme was planned to prepare the party for mid-term elections to the Lok Sabha in the event of the Left parties deciding to part ways with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre.

Charging the BJP with pursuing ''communal politics'', he said there was no scope for his party having any truck with it.

The party leaders would fan out to all the 294 Assembly constituencies to know the people's problems and also create awareness among them about the ''anti-people'' policies, including ''skyrocketing'' prices of essential commodities and alleged ''rampant'' corruption in the major irrigation initiative and weaker section housing programme of the UPA Government and the Congress government in the state.

He would personally lead the programme ''Palle Palleku Telugu Desam and Wada Wadaku Telugu Desam'' in East Godavari district on September 12 and 13, Mr Naidu said.

The exercise was also aimed at receiving inputs from the people for evolving an alternative economic policy, he said adding that the UPA government's present policies increased the gap between the rich and the poor though the country witnessed high economic growth.

Over 4000 farmers were forced to commit suicide in Andhra Pradesh alone due to alleged failure of the Union and State governments to ensure farm inputs at reasonable prices and remunerative price for the farm produce, he alleged.

UNI