BJP reportedly rejects TDP offer as NDA seat-sharing talks stall

NDA seat-sharing talks remain inconclusive as JSP, BJP eye bigger quota in local body polls

A round of seat-sharing discussions between the TDP and Jana Sena Party (JSP) reportedly failed to yield positive results, leaving the allocation of seats and key posts unresolved in Andhra Pradesh’s forthcoming urban local body elections.

No consensus has emerged among the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners in the State. The BJP has rejected the TDP’s offer, while JSP chief and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has reportedly expressed reservations over the proposal made to his party.

BJP rejects TDP’s offer

Chief Minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu met BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav and State Medical and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav to discuss seat-sharing.

The BJP leaders “stoutly rejected” the TDP’s offer, according to sources. “They offered five per cent of the seats. They are going by the old system of seat-sharing, which we rejected,” a senior BJP leader privy to the discussions said.

The discussions underline the difference between the TDP’s proposal and the BJP’s expectations as the alliance works out an arrangement for the urban local body elections.

The negotiations later moved to the JSP, with TDP State president Palla Srinivasa Rao and Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu holding discussions with Mr. Pawan Kalyan. Those talks reportedly failed to produce a positive outcome.

JSP presses its organisational and electoral claims

Sources said Mr. Pawan Kalyan highlighted the “sacrifices made” by him and the JSP over the past decade, particularly during the 2024 elections, to strengthen the NDA in Andhra Pradesh.

He reportedly said he was also “answerable to the JSP cadres” and had to take their aspirations and expectations into account while negotiating the allocation of seats and key posts.

The JSP has reportedly sought eight mayoral posts out of the 17 municipal corporations in the State. The TDP is understood to be considering five or six posts for the JSP.

The allocation, however, has not been finalised. Discussions over several urban local bodies remain inconclusive, while the BJP and the JSP have submitted lists of places where they want to contest based on their assessment of local political strength.

Posts and reservation roster add to negotiations

The TDP, as the alliance’s principal partner, is weighing the demands of its partners against their organisational presence, electoral performance and local political equations.

Andhra Pradesh has 123 urban local bodies, comprising 17 municipal corporations, 88 municipalities and 18 nagar panchayats. Municipal corporations have Mayors, while municipalities and nagar panchayats have Chairpersons.

The negotiations therefore cover more than corporator, councillor and ward-level seats. They also involve the distribution of these key leadership posts.

The reservation roster for mayoral posts has added another dimension to the discussions. Alliance partners must identify candidates in accordance with the prescribed categories, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and women.

With differences persisting over the allocation of seats and leadership positions, further consultations are expected before the NDA finalises its seat-sharing formula for the urban local body elections.

Source: The Hindu