Shiv Sena tracking TDP’s next move

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena’s leadership is keenly watching the political developments in Andhra Pradesh politics. Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu had threatened to leave the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Mr Naidu met the party leaders in his home state to discuss whether to continue being in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Though the decision on leaving the alliance was not taken by the TDP, Sena leadership feels
that if Mr Naidu decides to leave the NDA, they will be under pressure to follow in his footsteps.

Senior leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) met in Amaravati, Andhra on Sunday to decide on alliance with the BJP.

Mr Naidu held meeting with senior leaders on the issue. Later speaking to media in Amaravati, union minister YS Chowdhary said, “Our party will not break up with BJP now. But we have decided to push our demand for special funds to Andhra for its capital. We will pressurise union government for it.”

Meanwhile, Sena leadership is constantly in touch with ‘key persons’ involved in this development, said Sena sources. Shiv Sena has already declared its decision to contest next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections on its own.

But Sena leadership is reluctant to leave the government early.

According to sources, Sena leadership feels that if TDP pulled out of the government in next few days, then it will create moral pressure on the party to walk out from power.

There was a buzz on Sunday morning that Mr Naidu called Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and requested him to walk out of the union government and the NDA.

But the TDP has denied that any such conversation took place between two leaders. Similarly, Sena too has denied that any talks were held between leaders.