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TDP too opposes President's rule in Bihar

The Telugu Desam Party, one of the supporting partners in the government, has come out openly against the Centre's decision to invoke Article 356 to dismiss the Bihar government.

TDP parliamentary party leader K Yerran Naidu, who stayed away from a meeting convened by Home Minister L K Advani of the BJP allies and supporting parties on Thursday evening, said the TDP is opposed to the use of Article 356 of the Constitution that provides for imposition of President's rule in states of the Union of India.

The TDP became the third party after the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Lok Shakti, to oppose the government's recommendation to President K R Narayanan to impose President's rule in Bihar.

While Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde of the Lok Shakti was present at the meeting, Akali Dal leader and Fertiliser Minister Surjeet Singh Barnala could not make it to Advani's discussions for health reasons.

Naidu said TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had reiterated the party's position in the matter at various meetings of the standing committee of the inter-state council during the United Front regime.

The party, right from its inception and in its manifesto, had made it very clear that it was opposed to use of Article 356. The TDP had maintained this view even at the time of formation of the National Front, of which party founder N T Rama Rao, was chairman, Yerran Naidu explained.

Since the TDP is extending issue-based support to the BJP at the Centre, it has not attended any formal coordination meetings of the BJP's allies, and in view of the stated position of the party regarding Article 356, the TDP did not attend the meeting yesterday, he said.

UNI

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