Telugu Desam Party is joining NDA, confirms MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar

NEW DELHI: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar said on Saturday that party’s national president N Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and came to the understanding that the party is joining the NDA ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

“Our party national president, N Chandrababu Naidu, had a meeting with Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda along with Pawan Kalyan and came to the understanding that TDP is joining the NDA”, MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar said. “The Jana Sena is already part of the NDA and will contest the upcoming 2024 elections in Andhra Pradesh in alliance”, he added.

#WATCH | Delhi: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar says, "Our party national president N Chandrababu Naidu had a meeting with Amit Shah and JP Nadda along with Pawan Kalyan and came to an understanding that TDP is joining NDA and JanaSena is already part of… pic.twitter.com/PI11k98lpL

— ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2024

This follows the meeting of TDP chief Naidu with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP Chief JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday. Chandrababu Naidu left for Hyderabad from Delhi airport after holding meetings with the top BJP leaders.

#WATCH | TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu leaves for Hyderabad from Delhi Airport.

TDP MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar today said, "Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is joining NDA." pic.twitter.com/F3S7bNdQmd

— ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2024

There have been speculations about the TDP joining the NDA fold, six years after breaking ties with the alliance. The TDP, which was part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance until 2018, evinced interest in reviving the alliance after suffering a crushing defeat in the 2019 elections. Actor Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party, which has been a member of the NDA, has already joined hands with the TDP.

The state has 25 Lok Sabhas and 175 Assembly seats. Elections for Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May. The ruling party is eyeing a third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has set a target for winning 370 seats on its own and 400 with allies. (ANI)