New Delhi, Mar 16: The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu pulled out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday. The party is also expected to introduce a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
With 16 MPs of the TDP gone, the strength of NDA-led government at the Centre has dropped to 312 -- still 30 lawmakers more than the majority mark.
The decision to snap ties with the NDA was announced by the Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister's Office (CMO) earlier in the day.
TDP has withdrawn support from the NDA, "which did injustice to Andhra Pradesh", the CMO said.
"TDP President Chandrababu Naidu took this decision in an emergency teleconference with party politburo members and MPs, which was unanimously supported," the official statement added.
TDP MP Thota Narasimham, while speaking to reporters in the national capital, said his party would be bringing a seperate no-confidence motion against the Modi government, apart from supporting the no-confidence motion to be introduced by the YSR Congress.
The YSR Congress, led by Jaganmohan Reddy, announced on Thursday that it would be moving a no-confidence motion against the Centre for the "mistreatment" of Andhra over the past four years.
Reacting to the charges levelled against the Centre, BJP's national spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said a "massive propaganda" is being unleashed against PM Modi.
"TDP's decision to quit was inevitable after its mischievous propaganda against Centre. People of AP have now realised that the TDP is resorting to lies to cover up its inept and inert governance. Far from being a threat, TDP's exit is a timely opportunity for the BJP to grow in AP," Rao said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 16, 2018 10:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).