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     Blazewada Mudiripoyina Bewarse Username: Blazewada Post Number: 20044 Registered: 08-2008 Posted From: 111.223.89.209 Rating: N/A |
HYDERABAD: Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar flew in to Hyderabad over the weekend to hold backroom consultations with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Kiran Kumar Reddy on possible political alliances ahead of the 2014 elections, sources privy to the developments told TOI. Parrikar arrived in Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon from Kochi and during his 24-hour stay, held talks with Kiran Kumar Reddy as well as TDP president Chandrababu Naidu. "The meeting with Kiran is significant and Parrikar reportedly enquired from the former his future political plans as well as the possibility of an electoral understanding with the BJP in the Seemandhra region in the event of Kiran floating a political party," sources said. Kiran is toying with the idea of breaking away from the Congress and floating his own party. The Goa CM's visit to Naidu was a courtesy call. "An electoral alliance between the BJP and the TDP has already been informally arrived at between Rajnath Singh and Naidu. "The BJP appears to be eyeing the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh as any gains here would be a bonus for the opposition party and can end up being crucial in its efforts to form the next government at the centre," sources said. Incidentally, 58-year-old Parrikar is a member of the BJP's central campaign committee and is said to have the eyes and ears of the party leadership including national president Rajnath Singh and prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. The BJP is seriously eyeing the Seemandhra region in particular and indications are that Parrikar has the backing of both Rajnath and Modi in exploring ways and means of strengthening the party in this region. The Goa CM's visit to Hyderabad was shrouded in secrecy and even the state BJP leaders, barring G Kishan Reddy, were kept in the dark. Parrikar also attended a family function of his close friend in the city. Although he was a state guest of the government of Andhra Pradesh, sources said Parrikar preferred to spend the night with his industrialist friend at the latter's residence in Gachibowli instead of the official Lake View Guest House. The Goa CM left for Panaji on Monday afternoon. State BJP leaders claimed that Parrikar was on a private visit to Hyderabad and that no political significance should be attached to it. |