Congress gears up for a tie-up with TDP in AP for 2019 polls

Guntur: Congress likely to have a poll alliance with TDP in the coming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh to defeat common enemy BJP and prevent Narendra Modi from becoming Prime Minister for another term. Congress leaders are feeling that the Praja Kutami will form the government in Telangana and it will give a boost to efforts to repeat the exercise in AP too.

According to Congress sources, party leaders have prepared a list of 45 Assembly constituencies where the party has strength, to give to the party high command in case of party goes for an alliance with TDP. Though there will be some clarity on the prospects of alliance, PCC president N RaghuveeraReddy is said to be giving leaks to the party district leaders about the pact and hinting that a few seniors would get tickets and the remaining leaders would have to sacrifice for party.

Congress leaders in the state have stopped criticising TDP since TDP joined Praja Kutami alliance in Telangana. They feel that there is an overwhelming need to prevent Narendra Modi and BJP from returning to power in next election as the NDA government had become threat to both to democratic institutions and the interests of Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, TDP leaders too are not criticising the Congress as in the part and leaders of both parties are attacking BJP.

Speaking to the Hans India, PCC president N Raghuveera Reddy said AICC president Rahul Gandhi and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu would meet in December third week and take a decision on poll alliance in Andhra Pradesh. “We will get clarity on alliance with TDP in AP after the declaration of results of Telangana Assembly elections,” he said.

AICC secretary Mastan Vali told this newspaper that there was a need to defeat BJP and prevent Modi from becoming Prime Minister for another term. “About 14 to 18 parties opposing Narendra Modi across the nation. We will form at a front at national level to save democracy because BJP has lowered the image of institutions like CBI,ED and I-T and is pursuing anti-people policies. It is also not cooperating for the development of newly-formed AP.

Congress will give Special Category Status and will fulfil its election promises. In order to save democracy, Congress party will join hands with like-minded parties,” he said.