Opposition efforts from Telugu parties to seek support for their vice -presidential election candidate, former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudarsen Reddy have received a blow with the Telugu Desmas Party (TDP), YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), and Bharat Reshtira Samithi (Bro).
According to a Congress leader aware of the details, the opposition party had reached the TDP, YSRCP and BRS in an attempt to push MPs of three parties to vote for the Telugu -speaking public in the September 9 elections. In Parliament, TDP has 18 members, followed by 11 and BR with YSRCP and BRS with four. However, the Congress did not receive favorable response from these parties.
After the NDA declared Maharashtra Governor Radhakrishnan as his pick for the upcoming elections, the TDP led by N Chandrababu Naidu supported the coalition candidate. “No ambiguity – only heat, respect and resolution. NDA is united,” party leader and Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh said in a post on X on 19 August. “
BRS executive president KT Rama Rao said on Friday, “No one sought our support,” denouncing the claims of the opposition that they reached the party. “The pole will be held on 9 September. Our party will discuss and decide before the date of the poll.”
Rao also said that the BRS would support the party which would ensure 200,000 metric tonnes of urea for the farmers of the state.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has also reached YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has informally ensured the party’s support for the NDA pick. Reddy has said that YSRCP will soon finalize its stand after the party leaders’ meeting.
With the support of these three parties and with the possible help of the seven-MP strong Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the NDA can secure at least 60% of the votes in the Vice Presidential election. The BJD has said that it will soon take a decision on the upcoming elections, but the Congress and the opposition are not expected to get support, given the party’s understanding with the ruling BJP on various issues. Congress President Mallikrajun Kharge had reached the BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, who was recently admitted to the hospital.
781-NDA leads with 427 votes in both houses of Parliament at 781-member Electoral College.
