The alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh is said to be on the rocks as the BJP has fielded weak candidates in some Assembly constituencies allotted to it in Seemandhra region, according to reports. Assembly election in Seemandhra is to be held on 7 May, simultaneously along with Lok Sabha election.  

BJP-TDP's pre-electoral tie-up was forged after much bargaining by both parties over seat allotment.

While TDP is complaining that BJP's move to field weak candidates will lead to the termination of the tie-up, BJP is expressing anger over TDP for meddling in its affairs of seat allotments. However, leaders of both parties are said to be handling the situation.

From BJP, Daggubati Purandeswari, late NT Rama Rao's daughter and close relative of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, is contesting from Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency in Kadapa district. She was seeking Visakhapatnam seat.

N Harikrishna, brother-in-law of Naidu, is yet to be allotted a ticket by TDP to contest the State Assembly election. Harikrishna has been expressing discontentment over Naidu for the delay in allotting the ticket. Harikrishna's younger brother and popular actor N Balakrishna has already filed his nomination from Hindupur Assembly seat, a forte of TDP.

Harikrishna's son Junior NTR, another popular actor from the Nandamuri clan, is yet to take up the canvassing task for TDP.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister N Kirankumar Reddy's Jai Samaikhyandhra Party (JSP) has tied up with CPM for this elections. JSP is contesting the polls on the plank of animosity over AP's division by the Congress-led government. Popular character actress Hema has joined JSP to contest from Mandapet in the East Godavari district.

On the other hand, Congress leaders in Telangana - Vijayashanthi and Ponnala Lakshmaiah - have criticized TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao for not merging TRS with Congress, post the announcement of Telangana state formation by the Centre. Telangana is to be formed on 2 June.

Meanwhile, Tollywood's 'power star' and Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan has topped the celebrities' list in Google search. Pawan, who is the younger brother of Chiranjeevi, union minister and Congress leader, has expressed his support to the BJP-TDP combine in Andhra Pradesh and has already canvassed two rallies for BJP in Karnataka, drawing more crowd with his maverick speeches.

(Ed: VP)