As ‘sword of arrest hangs over Naidu’, his 18 MLAs approach BJP

New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) seem to be on the verge of collapse, as more than two-thirds of party MLAs have approached the state BJP leadership in Andhra Pradesh.

After a major defection in the Rajya Sabha, where four out of six TDP MPs defected to the BJP, the developments in Andhra Pradesh seems set to deliver a big jolt to TDP supremo N. Chandrababu Naidu who is making last ditch efforts to prevent party legislators from pulling off another defection on the lines of the one in the Rajya Sabha.

Talking to the IANS, BJP National Secretary and co-in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Sunil Deodhar said that around 18 MLAs were in touch with his party.

At present TDP has 23 MLAs in the 175 members Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.

"The MLAs are well aware that TDP boss Naidu will soon be in jail on (alleged) multiple charges relating to corruption. Several close aides and family members of Naidu are also involved in corruption. It is for this reason that MLAs are approaching us. They realise that TDP's image of a clean party has taken a beating," said Deodhar who is also BJP's state in-charge for Tripura.

Upbeat about political developments in the state favouring BJP, the party is launching one of its biggest ever membership drives in Andhra Pradesh which will begin simultaneously from all Dalit settlements in each district of the state.

"Our focus is to reach the poorest of the poor. We are targeting at least one lakh new members in each Lok Sabha constituency. Beside this programme , the party is also preparing for the all important annual three-day meet of top RSS leaders beginning July 11 in Visakhapattnam," said Deodhar, a full-time pracharak of RSS in the northeast, who later joined as national office-bearer of the BJP.

Deodhar also informed that on July 6, RSS Sarsanghchalak (Chief) Mohan Bhagwat will be present in Guntur for a gurudakshina programme. Several senior BJP leaders are expected to join this function.

Commenting on the TDP's dismal performance in the recent state assembly polls, Deodhar said that Naidu threw norms of propriety to the wind as his government indulged in gross financial irregularities.

"TDP is now a party with no future as Naidu's misdeeds and acts of corruption have been exposed in public. From cash-for-vote scandal to various controversial government contracts awarded by his (TDP) government, Naidu seems neck-deep in corruption. The sword of arrest hangs over his head. It is almost certain that he (Naidu) will be in jail soon," said Deodhar who was the main architect of BJP's historic win in the Assembly elections of Tripura.