The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, April 15, 2002, Chandigarh, India

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TDP stops short of withdrawal
To demand Modi’s ouster in Parliament

NEW DELHI: A move to hold a conclave of NDA leaders minus the BJP next week has been initiated to consider the situation arising from the continuance of the controversial Gujarat Chief Minister in office. Leaders of the TDP and the NC are believed to have discussed such a move in the wake of the BJP turning down the demand for Mr Modi’s ouster.

Hyderabad, April 14
The TDP tonight stopped short of withdrawing support to the Vajpayee government over the continuance of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in office but said it would persist with its demand in Parliament and oppose fresh Assembly poll in the state.

Asked by reporters after a five-hour meeting of the TDP Politburo here whether the party would withdraw support to the Vajpayee government on the Modi issue, its Parliamentary Party leader K. Yerran Naidu said “So far, we have not taken any decision. This is a matter of national importance. We are discussing the pros and cons. We will wait and see.”

Meeting in the shadow of a crisis that has gripped the ruling NDA over Mr Modi’s continuance, the TDP, which has 27 MPs in the Lok Sabha, said it would raise in Parliament the demand for his removal and also oppose immediate Assembly elections in Gujarat.

“We stand by the Politburo resolutions” demanding removal of Mr Modi and opposing immediate elections in Gujarat, Mr Yarren Naidu said.

The Politburo meeting held at the residence of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also examined the resolutions passed by a specially convened NDA meeting in New Delhi which appealed to the TDP to continue its support to the Vajpayee government.

He said the party, was however, “uncompromising” on its demand for replacement of Mr Modi and its opposition to holding early elections in Gujarat.

“You will see from tomorrow how we are going to raise these issues in Parliament,” he said.

When it was pointed out to him that the BJP central leadership had categorically rejected the TDP’s demands, Mr Naidu said, “We stand by our demands. We are not demanding change of Chief Ministers everywhere. In the interests of the nation, we are asking for Mr Modi’s replacement”.

Asked whether the party was in touch with other secular allies of the NDA, the TDP leader said, “the Chief Minister (Chandrababu Naidu) has contacted Mamata Banerjee and Ram Bilas Paswan”. He did not divulge the details. PTI, UNI