Follow Us
TDP powers BJP to win in Port Blair MC poll
Significant alliance ahead of 2024 general election and Andhra Pradesh assembly polls considering the TDP had quit the NDA in 2018 over non-grant of special category status to Andhra
Aditi Tandon
New Delhi, March 14
In positive signals for the BJP, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party on Tuesday emerged the kingmaker in the Port Blair municipal council elections by backing the BJP to form the council in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
"Congratulations to the BJP-TDP alliance on this impressive victory in the Port Blair Municipal Council election. Your hard work and dedication for the people of Port Blair have paid off and this victory is a testament to the trust that the people have in PM Narendra Modi's vision," BJP President JP Nadda tweeted on Tuesday.
The BJP won 10 seats in the council election while the Congress-DMK alliance won 11.
But the TDP, with two councillors, emerged the kingmaker and threw its weight behind the BJP.
The BJP-led alliance now has 13 councillors (including one independent) while the DMK-Congress is trailing at 11.
The council has 21 members.
The TDP took the decision to back the BJP after a series of deliberations on Monday.
The turn of events led to talks of possibilities of the TDP and BJP regrouping in Andhra Pradesh for the 2024 Lok Sabha election and state assembly polls -- so far a premature permutation.
The TDP had in March 2018 quit the NDA and pulled two ministers out of the PM Modi-led cabinet protesting non-grant of special category status to Andhra.
The lone Andaman Lok Sabha seat is held by Congress's Kuldeep Rai Sharma.
In Andhra, the TDP-BJP alliance contesting together had bagged the majority in the 2014 state polls and 15 Lok Sabha seats out of 25.
In 2019, both suffered a jolt, with YSRCP sweeping the assembly polls and 22 of the state's 25 Lok Sabha seats.
TDP was reduced to three Lok Sabha seats and the BJP scored a duck.
The Tribune News Service brings you the latest news, analysis and insights from the region, India and around the world. Follow the Tribune News Service for a wide-ranging coverage of events as they unfold, with perspective and clarity.
Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.
Show comments
Show comments
Trending News
Also In This Section
Top News
Most Read In 24 Hours
5
Punjab
The Tribune interview
PM to accord farmers red carpet welcome after poll
8
10