BJP-TDP alliance on the rocks

It seems the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and its key regional ally Telugu Desam Party is coming to an end.

In the midst of changing political dynamics in Andhra Pradesh, there are signals emanating from both the camps that the tie-up would not last long.

Once a crucial player in the National Democratic Alliance regime, the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP is now undergoing an ideological churning process that may result in its parting ways with the saffron party.

An already fragile relationship between the two allies has come under further strain after BJP president Lal Kishenchand Advani's remarks at the party's silver jubilee celebrations in Delhi recently that the BJP was 'totally committed' to a Ram temple at Ayodhya.

"We condemn the BJP's moves to revert to hard-line Hindutva and revive the Ayodhya issue. This poses danger to secularism," TDP parliamentary party leader K Yerran Naidu said.

Though the TDP has not taken an official stand on its future relationship with the BJP, a majority of party leaders are understood to be favouring a review of the alliance.

A meeting of the TDP polit bureau held in Hyderabad recently took serious note of Advani's statement and felt it went against the spirit of coalition.

"When the BJP is clearly moving towards hard-line Hindutva plank, what is the point in continuing the alliance? Our views on secularism are well known," a senior TDP leader and a member of the party's polit bureau said.

There are also indications that the TDP may eventually cosy up to the idea of reviving the Third front. "We are keenly observing the statements emanating from the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Samajwadi Party camps on the need to revive the Third Front," a TDP leader said.

The TDP had a long-standing alliance with the Left parties in the state before snapping ties and deciding to support the BJP-led NDA in 1998.

Significantly, the TDP and the Left parties -- CPI and CPI (M) -- are now finding themselves on the same wavelength, as they strongly oppose the demand for a separate Telangana state and also the ruling Congress' move to revive the Legislative Council in the state.