File picture of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu.
Talks between the TDP and the BJP for a poll alliance in Andhra Pradesh are in the final stages and they could be close to a deal. Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were holding the final round of talks in the national capital at the residence of Akali Dal MP Naresh Gujral.
TDP sources in Hyderabad told NDTV that they have agreed that the BJP will contest 45 assembly and eight Lok Sabha seats in Telangana and in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP would contest 15 assembly and five Lok Sabha seats. They are hopeful a formal announcement will be made in Delhi on Wednesday by Arun Jaitley, who participated in helping the two parties come together.
The BJP Telangana president Kishan Reddy however said the deal is not done. There is a stalemate. There is no agreement yet on which seats and numbers the two parties would contest. He also indicated that it is even possible that they go with different partners in Telangana and in Andhra Pradesh, suggesting the BJP could look towards the TRS if talks with the TDP fail.
Gujral, who is BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's chief negotiator for alliance building, is said to be making intense efforts for an early deal.
The two parties could not reach an understanding despite several round of talks and three visits to Andhra Pradesh by BJP leader Prakash Javadekar, who also met TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu last week.
The talks hit a roadblock few days ago as TDP termed as "unfair" the BJP's demand for majority of assembly and Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. BJP leaders in Telangana had also threatened to go alone.
However, the reported intervention by the Central BJP leadership led to resumption of the talks.
Telangana has 119 assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats while Seemandhra has 175 assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats.
BJP was earlier demanding 60 assembly and nine Lok Sabha seats in Telangana.
The elections in Telangana are scheduled on April 30 while Seemandhra will go to polls on May 7.