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TDP enclave rules out joining out Vajpayee ministry

The ruling Telugu Desam Party is convinced that regional parties will continue to play a crucial role in the formation of governments at the Centre in the future also, in view of the regional, political and cultural diversities existing in the country.

A political resolution adopted at the TDP's two-day mini mahanadu (general body meeting) in Hyderabad, said the party would strive to protect the country's unity and integrity and establishment of healthy co-operative federalism, even while continuing to play a crucial role in national politics.

The TDP ruled out the possibility of joining the Vajpayee government, and reiterated that it would continue to extend issue-based support to the BJP-led coalition government.

Explaining the circumstances which led to the party's decision to extend support to the BJP-led government, the TDP said it felt hurt when some of the constituents of the United Front ignored TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's suggestion that the UF should maintain equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP.

To top it, some prominent UF leaders even unilaterally announced that they would support the Congress in the formation of a government without consulting Naidu, who was the convener of the UF, to keep out the BJP.

Declaring that the Congress was its enemy number one, the resolution said the TDP would continue to fight the Congress.

The TDP, however, declared that it would oppose any move of the Vajpayee government which was not in the interests of the people and against secularism.

In another resolution, the TDP urged the Centre to confer posthumously, the Bharat Ratna on party founder N T Rama Rao.

A resolution on agriculture and farmers welfare demanded that the crop insurance scheme be extended to all commercial crops.

The party, in another resolution, welcomed the various steps initiated by the state government to maintain law and order in the state.

In all, the party adopted 30-odd resolutions concerning the welfare of various sections of the society and developmental programmes undertaken by the government.

UNI

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