A grand alliance of BJP, TDP, LSP, Jana Sena on cards in AP

A grand alliance of BJP, TDP, Lok Satta and just launched Jana Sena Party of actor-turned-politician Pavan Kalyan appears to be a possibility for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

BJP and TDP are already in talks to sew up an electoral alliance, while the former received a huge boost with Pavan endorsing the candidature of Narendra Modi for Prime Minister's post.

"There is a need for Narendra Modiji to be Prime Minister at this juncture," Pavan, youngest brother of Union Minister and Congress leader Chiranjeevi, said after a meeting with the Gujarat Chief Minister in Ahmedabad this evening.

Lok Satta Party (LSP) of bureaucrat-turned-politician Jayaprakash Narayan announced his party is ready to consider "strategic alliances and tactical adjustments" with other parties without compromising on its core values.

Significantly, Narayan ruled out his party joining forces with the Congress, but named BJP specifically as a potential partner. Though the talks between TDP and BJP have reportedly been stuck on seat-sharing, the two parties are expected to thrash out an understanding in the days to come, sources said.

In an apparent reference to the talks with TDP, BJP spokesman and MP Prakash Javadekar hoped the parties opposed to Congress would clinch an understanding soon.

"I welcome those who give suggestions, those who give the slogan 'Congress hatao desh bachao'. But, there must be a joint effort to do that. It cannot be an isolated, different effort. And to that end, yes, we are in dialogue with some of them.

"But, let me also remind that there is little time left. It cannot be an endless debate, endless talks. No way. Therefore, I hope in the national interest, all the parties and other forces, those who want 'Congress hatao desh bachao' will realise the importance of time and sort out issues so that we can jointly fight," he said in Vijayawada.

Javadekar today held a meeting with Telangana BJP leaders, a section of whom was reportedly reluctant initially for an alliance but now reportedly insisting on fighting a substantial number of seats.