Naidu holds hectic parleys on cobbling anti-BJP front

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday undertook a hectic round of discussions with parties opposed to BJP when he met leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Mahagathbandhan leaders -- Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati in Lucknow.

Naidu is on a mission of rallying opposition parties in a bid to keep the BJP out of power, in case its numbers fall short of majority considerably. Naidu also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI leader Sudhakar Reddy and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav in Delhi earlier today.

Later, he flew to Lucknow for meeting the grand alliance leaders. Last night, he had met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

None of the leaders, including Naidu spoke to the media after the meetings. However, in a television interview, the TDP chief expressed confidence that the BJP would fall short of a majority and would be unable to form the government.

He said despite differences at the state level where non-NDA parties like YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh and BJD in Odisha fought each other, they could come together to keep the BJP out.

Seven-phased Lok Sabha elections, which began on April 11, will conclude on May 19.

The 25 Lok Sabha and 175 assembly seats at stake in Andhra Pradesh went for polls simultaneously on April 11. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.