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AP Congress chief blasts BJP-TDP nexus

Andhra Pradesh Congress unit president, Dr Y S Rajashekhara Reddy, MP, today alleged that the 'understanding' between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling Telugu Desam Party for the next month's assembly byelections was 'only a precursor' for an 'official alliance' between the two parties in the next assembly elections in the state.

Talking to the media, he said the ''cat is out of the bag as there now seems to be a clear electoral understanding'' with the BJP deciding to contest only the Metpalli seat and 'announcing' support for the TDP in the other three seats.

He alleged that TDP president and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu was again trying to 'deceive' the people by putting up 'a political novice' for the Metpalli seat which was only a facade to back the BJP candidate in the bypoll.

Charging the TDP with ' total political bankruptcy', he said it had fielded Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi's brother-in-law for the Mummidivaram (scheduled caste) seat without even knowing that the candidate was ineligible to contest as he was not even 25. They made a last-minute change by putting up another candidate. For the Andole (reserved) seat, they had fielded cine comedian Babu Mohan.

Dr Reddy would commence his first phase of campaigning with a meeting in Andole constituency on May 22.

UNI

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