TDP woos regional parties after SP exit

Hyderabad, July 11 (UNI) After its ally the Samajwadi Party parted ways to support the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, the Telugu Desam Party, a constituent of the UNPA, is striving to come closer to regional parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party, to stay afloat in national politics even while strengthening bonds with the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

TDP Supremo N Chandrababu Naidu, who is in the midst of 150-day ''Meekosam Yatra'' to strengthen the party in the state, will hold a meeting with senior party leaders in Khammam tomorrow to consider various options before the party and take a decision, synchronising with the Left parties when the vote of confidence on the Manmohan Singh Government comes up in the Lok Sabha on July 22 or 23.

Besides the BSP, which had withdrawn support to the UPA Government even before the Left parties parted ways with the Congress, the TDP was also in touch with the Janata Dal(S), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Rashtriya Lok Dal and Jharkhand Vikas Manch to assure itself of a place in national politics, TDP sources here said.

TDP Parliamentary Party Leader K Yerrannaidu was entrusted with the task of bringing together these regional parties to vote against the motion and also coordinate with CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat, the sources said.

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