Disappointed with Budget 2018, NDA ally TDP to declare 'war' against BJP

Expressing “serious” displeasure over the allocation of funds to Andhra Pradesh in Union Budget 2018, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), BJP’s ally in NDA has threatened to quit to the alliance.

According to the reports, TDP President and Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu has called an emergency meeting of Party leaders and MPs on February 4 to review the alliance with BJP.

TDP MPs said the budget 2018 was disappointing and didn’t mention any of the promises made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

They were also angry as there was no allocation of funds for the construction of the new capital Amaravati.

Also Read | Budget 2018: Impossible to double farmers' income by 2022, says Manmohan Singh

“We are going to declare war, have three options, 1 is to try and continue, 2 is our MPs resign and 3rd is breaking of the alliance. Will decide in meeting with CM on Sunday,” TDP MP TG Venkatesh said.

TDP is the second largest alliance partner of NDA and had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls with BJP but their ties have since soured as TDP complained that the Centre was not releasing enough funds for constructing new capital Amravati.

Recently Naidu had asked party leaders not to make any comments against BJP or Prime Minister Modi and said “I am sticking to the coalition dharma and keeping quiet. I am also restraining my colleagues from speaking out against the BJP. But if they do not want us, I will say ‘namaste’ and walk away.”