Naidu may not back BJP openly
Ch Sushil Rao in Hyderabad
The Bharatiya Janata Party's present predicament may not force Telugu Desam Party supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu to change his stand -- of abstaining from voting if prime ministerial candidate Atal Bihari Vajpayee faces a trust vote in Parliament -- on the saffron alliance at the Centre.
Despite President K R Narayanan's directive that Vajpayee should submit documentary evidence that he enjoys majority support in the Lok Sabha, Naidu seems to be against openly supporting the BJP.
"Giving open support to the BJP is ruled out," a senior party leader who is close to Naidu said.
Several party leaders, however, are keen on backing a BJP government. ''When Naidu sought our views, we told him clearly that the party should support the BJP," a newly elected TDP MP told Rediff On The NeT. The same MP reportedly told a senior BJP leader, "Personally, you can count on my support."
Naidu himself knows the advantages of sailing with the saffron alliance, especially after its impressive show in the Lok Sabha election. Another reason for the pro-BJP tilt is that his dominant Kamma farmer lobby had reportedly voted for the BJP in some coastal districts.
The 'tactical' reasons apart, Naidu is said to be under tremendous pressure from a newspaper baron to extend support to the BJP. Naidu can ill-afford to displease the Telugu newspaper editor-in-chief, despite his grave reservations about losing the Muslim votes.
But the United Front seems to have given Naidu 'some more time' in its battle against the communal forces, asking him how the combine's chief architect could ditch them now.
However, two UF leaders seem to have told Naidu that he should quit as the combine's convener if his stand helps the BJP.
Naidu, who hitherto enjoyed playing the UF king-maker, now finds himself between the devil and the deep sea. And the time is running out -- the country cannot wait endlessly for a government -- as both the dangers seem to be closing in on the media savvy chief minister.
Little wonder he now avoids the media like plague. But the Telugus are watching his moves carefully. Whatever his decision, it will definitely have a bearing on the Andhra Pradesh assembly election, due next year.
Elections '98
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