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TDP opposes polls in Gujarat, reiterates demand on Modi's ouster

Stepping up the pressure on the BJP, the Telugu Desam Party, a key ally of the National Democratic Alliance, reiterated its demand for immediate ouster of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and opposed the BJP's plan to hold snap polls in the strife-torn state 'for achieving blatantly narrow and communal goals'.

The TDP is the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh.

At an emergency meeting of its politburo in Hyderabad on Saturday night, the TDP came down heavily on the BJP for not only rejecting Modi's offer to resign but also for its plans to hold assembly elections in Gujarat.

The BJP proposed assembly elections to ascertain the views of the people on the Gujarat government's performance in handling the post-Godhra violence in the state.

"To hold elections in Gujarat now is equivalent to making political capital out of a human tragedy. It is a covert attempt to clothe narrow and partisan ends with the legitimacy of a democratic process."

"The leadership in Gujarat has lost its moral authority to govern and such devious use of the electoral process cannot restore its authority. The need of the hour is immediate restoration of peace and normalcy, providing a healing touch and instilling confidence among the public," the TDP said in a statement issued after the meeting.

"After the serious outbreak of violence in Gujarat, there has been a total failure of the administration in restoring peace and normalcy. There have been accusations of gross partiality and complicity on the part of the administration in handling the law and order situation."

"The observations of many impartial individuals and independent organisations point to many lapses on the part of the Gujarat government in curbing violence and in attending to relief and rehabilitation of the hapless victims."

"We, therefore, reiterate the demand for change of leadership in Gujarat," it said.

The TDP said that 'strict adherence to secularism is one of the basic conditions for our support to the NDA at the Centre. The TDP firmly believes that India is a pluralist society and divisive forces cannot take the country forward."

"Effective and impartial intervention by the law and order enforcement agencies would certainly have curbed the gross human tragdy that has unfolded (in Gujarat) over the last few weeks and continues to this day," it said.

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