News: Telugu Desam fears KCR whip

The Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, has decided to convene a meeting of the Third Front parties after May 16. Mr Naidu is in touch with the Left, AIADMK and BSP leaders and plans to talk to the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, despite the latter with the NDA. According to TD estimates, the TRS could 30-plus seats in the Assembly and five Lok Sabha seats. And therein lies the rub. If the TD falls short of numbers, the TRS could use its position to nudge the party towards the NDA “TRS support to the NDA has become a complex problem for us. The TRS might insist on TD support to the NDA in lieu of its support to Mahakutami in the state. If the TD gets majority, there will be no problem. But if it has to depend on TRS, the problem will compounded,” a senior TD leader said. Sources said TD leaders were in touch with Mr Rao and a meeting has been planned between Mr Naidu and the TRS chief. Mr Naidu said neither the Congress and the BJP would be able to form a coalition government. “I am confident the Third Front will form government at the Centre,” he said. Regional parties like the TD would play a key role at the Centre, he said.