Chandrababu Naidu Walks Out: Will Ally Trouble Hurt BJP In 2019?

Two weeks is a long time in politics, because two weeks ago, the BJP looked invincible, fresh from its victories in the North East. This week, the UP and Bihar bypolls came as rude jolt to the ruling party as the BJP lost, including the key seat of Gorakhpur. The infallibility of PM Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah was dented, and that is what emboldened disgruntled allies to take the final shot - that's why Chandrababu Naidu pulled his party, the TDP, out of the NDA this morning. In some very sharp words, he had described the mood in the country after the bypolls as anti-Modi and anti-BJP. But then the TDP has gone a step further and moved a no-confidence motion against the government, as has their political rival in Andhra Pradesh, the YSR Congress. Many opposition parties are supporting them. The government looks like it is safe, numerically, but now other allies like the Shiv Sena will decide what to do over the weekend, and so will the AIADMK. Will this ally trouble seriously hurt the BJP in 2019?