Date:02/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/02/stories/2005010204940400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Karimnagar BJP parts ways with TDP

By Our Staff Reporter

KARIMNAGAR, JAN. 1. The district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has clarified that it will not forge an alliance with the Telugu Desam in the elections to local bodies.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the BJP district president, P. Sugunakar Rao, said the BJP cadre were not keen on forging an alliance with the TDP in the district. During the last municipal elections, the TDP had fielded eight rebels against BJP candidates. In the Assembly elections too, it had fielded three rebels against the official candidates.

He said BJP MPTC members had supported the election of the TDP candidate, Bonala Swarna, as MPP from the Karimnagar mandal.

But during the recent byelection to the MPTC from Chamanpalli village, the TDP fielded its candidate against the BJP candidate. However, the BJP won the seat with a record majority.

There was no meaning in forging an alliance with the TDP in the district, he said.

He said the BJP was gearing up to strengthen the party from the grassroots level by constituting committees in all villages by April 6, the party's foundation day.