The development came as a big blow to the BJP-led alliance as the Jana Sena Party became the second prominent partner in the South that left the coalition ahead of crucial Lok Sabha elections. Jana Sena Party's move will give a big boost to the struggling TDP whose chief is in jail now.
In another blow to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Jana Sena Party walked out of the alliance in support of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan said he is quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA to support the TDP.
"The TDP is a strong party and Andhra Pradesh needs Telugu Desam Party's governance for the development of the state. Today, TDP is struggling and we will support them. TDP needs Jana Sainik's support in this situation. If TDP and Jana Sena join hands, the YSRCP government will be submerged in the state," the actor-turned-politician said.
The TDP chief has been in jail in an alleged multi-crore skill development scam case. The former Andhra Pradesh CM was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on September 9, triggering state-wide protests by the TDP supporters.
Second blow to NDA in South
Tamil Nadu's AIADMK on September 25 announced its decision to snap ties with the NDA, saying it will form a coalition with like-minded parties ahead of the Lok Sabha poll.
AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami said that his party exited the alliance to respect party workers' feelings adding that there was no other reason behind the breakup. "The happenings here wounded our party workers. A party worker has to work for a party's success and its welfare and our decision is in deference to party workers' feelings," the AIADMK general secretary said.
