Panicked United Front leaders warns Chandrababu Naidu
  against tie up with Bharatiya Janata Party

  Panicked United Front leaders wanrs the Chief of TDP (Telugu Desam Party), Mr Chandrababu
  Naidu, against tie up with BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). Such an act, according to them, might
  "spell his political doom".

  United Front leaders have advised him to go slow. The note of caution was issued soon after the
  BJP officially stated that the 12 newly-elected TDP MPs (Member of Parliament) had sent
  encouraging signals.

  Any step in this direction, they fear, would also jeopardize the United Front's prospects. Several
  leaders including Mr V P Singh, were in touch with Mr Naidu the whole day over the phone. He
  was asked to attend today's meeting to explain his point of view to all the partners.

  Mr Naidu told United Front leaders over telephone that he was particularly upset over the statement
  by Andhra Pradesh Congress leaders, such as Mr Vijay Bhaskar Reddy and Mr Rajsekhar Reddy.
  Both had publicly demanded his dismissal of the TDP government because of his party's dismal
  performance. The TDP has won 12 seats against 16 in the 1996 elections. The Congress, Mr Naidu
  said, had fared poorly in Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. "But no Congress leader had demanded the
  dismissal of the Digvijay Singh and J B Patnaik government".

  The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister is unhappy over the manner in which he, despite being the
  Front convener, was bypassed by the Left leaders while they initiated moves to come to an
  understanding with the Congress and its allies. He told Mr Karunanidhi That the TDP's continuation
  in the United Front would serve little purpose if he was not taken into confidence in matters of
  policy.

  Mr Naidu told after a TDP Politburo meeting that he would remain equidistant from both Congress -
  "the enemy in the state" - and the BJP - "the rival at the national level". He hastened to add: "I
  cannot take a decision without holding talks with national leaders of the United Front". He has been
  authorized by the United Front to negotiate the party's role at the Center.