A grand alliance is on the cards in Andhra

With Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan pledging support to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Lok Satta party willing to join in, a grand alliance is taking shape in Andhra Pradesh.

Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party too is set to be part of this alliance in the next few days.

While this would be a formidable alliance in Seema-Andhra, the BJP would look for a post poll alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti in Telangana.

The TDP, which had been delaying its entry into the alliance quoting the bifurcation issue that the BJP supported in Parliament, is now back on the talking table.

According to Seema-Andhra BJP chief Haribabu, the decision

on TDP will be made known in a few days.

Sources say that the agreement is done, but the parties are discussing the seat sharing issue now.

The Lok Satta party will hand out strategic support to the BJP while the TDP will get a major share of the seats.

Kalyan would not contest the elections, but will campaign for the BJP and its allies all over the state. 

The BJP also hopes to capitalise on Kalyan’s support in the Telangana region as well.

Kalyan may have a bigger say with the 17 per cent Kapu community in coastal Andhra, but he can make a difference in other parts of the state including Telangana where he has a fan base.

Image: Actor Pawan Kalyan with BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi