HYDERABAD, March 30: Stung by the resignation of his Industries Minister over support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu has categorically ruled out the possibility of joining the Vajpayee Government.Naidu also allayed fears among Muslim minorities over the party's support to the BJP Government during the trust vote.
In an interview to The Indian Express, Naidu made it clear that the party, which was born out of anti-Congressism, would not in any way facilitate the formation of a Congress Government at the Centre. He added in the same breath that the party would not join the BJP-led coalition Government in view of its stated stance of staying equi-distant from both the parties.
Explaining the developments at the Centre during the past few days, the Chief Minister said though the TDP wanted to remain neutral, it had to cast its vote in favour of the BJP because of "political compulsions". The TDP's support to theBJP would be issue-based, he reiterated.
Stating that the TDP, the National Conference and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) had similar compulsions, he said: "The United Front has been divided into two camps -- pro-and anti-Congress. I, Farooq Abdullah and AGP have been forced to take a distinct line from that of the other UF constituents." He said the anti-BJP line professed by the Left parties was not at all acceptable to the TDP. "However strongly I tried to persuade the Left leaders to maintain neutrality towards the BJP, they did not heed my advice and insisted on adopting an anti-BJP stand," he said.
The TDP's decisions to get its candidate elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and vote in favour of the BJP during the confidence motion were necessitated due to "political compulsions as well as inevitable circumstances. Directly or indirectly, we cannot support the Congress," Naidu averred.
Commenting on the resignation of Industries Minister Basheerudddin Babukhan, the Chief Minister said he wouldtry to persuade the latter to change his mind. "I feel he (Babukhan) has become too sentimental. Anyway, I will call him and talk to him."
He appealed to Muslims to understand his difficulty in supporting a Congress Government at the Centre as such a move would prove detrimental to the TDP Government. "I hope they will appreciate our stand towards the BJP," Naidu said.
Cash may tilt TDP
Severe resource crunch may force Naidu to join the Vajpayee Government at a later stage. According to sources, Naidu's denial is being seen as a temporary measure to pacify his MLAs and stop them from taking any drastic step like resignation.The BJP is holding out two Cabinet portfolios and a generous financial package to Andhra Pradesh as a bait to get Naidu to join hands in running the Government.
With a budget deficit of Rs 1,900 crore, Naidu is seriously strapped for cash. Though the details are being worked out, sources said besides "liberal cooperation" for infrastructure projects, extension offinancial assistance and increased allocation for the Rural Development Ministry have been promised to Naidu.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
