Amit Shah-Chandrababu Naidu’s Late-Night Meet Sparks TDP-BJP Alliance Buzz

Telugu Desam Party Chief N Chandrababu Naidu reportedly met BJP President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit in New Delhi.

The meeting triggered speculation that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the TDP, could be joining hands ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

It was also the first meeting between the duo after the TDP snapped ties with the BJP by walking out of the NDA government in 2018.

According to reports, Naidu and Shah discussed state politics and possible electoral alliances in the state.

Chandrababu Naidu talked about the alliance between the TDP and the BJP not only in Andhra Pradesh but also in Telangana. The assembly elections in Telangana are due later this year.

Andhra Pradesh will have assembly elections in 2024, the same year when the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held.

TDP quit the ruling alliance in March 2018 before the 2019 elections over the delay in grant of special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Naidu has accused the BJP of breaking promises and exited from the BJP-led NDA. The BJP, however, termed the break-up a case of political opportunism.

The TDP has been demanding for special category status for Andhra Pradesh promised at the time of the bifurcation of the state to carve out a separate state of Telangana.

Hinting at a possible alliance, Naidu recently described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a visionary, who has been upholding the prestige of the nation and displaying to the world the strength of India.

"I am willing to associate myself with Modi in nation-building," Naidu said during a television debate on April 26.

If the speculation of the BJP-TDP alliance comes true, it is likely to be a big boost for the BJP which is eyeing to expand its footprint in Andhra Pradesh. While the BJP has emerged as a key opposition party in Telangana, the party has been struggling to find support among the politically dominant castes in Andhra Pradesh.