ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

NTR's son not to take BJP's help in battle against Chandrababu Naidu

Harikrishna, estranged brother-in-law of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, today indicated that the political party he proposed to launch shortly will have nothing to do with the Bharatiya Janata Party and that a working arrangement with the Left parties was possible.

Harikrishna, who is spearheading a campaign against Naidu, in a statement made available in New Delhi said he would never work with communal forces. He would take the support of all those who supported N T Rama Rao's philosophy of upholding secularism, he added.

The statement assumes significance in the wake of Harikrishna's announcement that he would tour the state from January 18. The Telugu Desam Party has been enjoying the support of the minorities and Left parties since its inception in 1983. This support base got eroded following Naidu's decision to extend issue-based support to the BJP coalition government at the Centre. The Left parties have snapped their ties with the TDP since March last year.

Harikrishna also repudiated reports that certain forces were behind his raising voice in defence of NTR's philosophy and legacy from which he says Naidu has deviated.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report