TDP willing to join Federal Front

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is ready to join the Federal Front proposed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu indicated to reporters Thursday. Naidu, a former Andhra Pradesh chief minister, told reporters that he was in touch with leaders of various regional parties over the formation of the proposed front, and the TDP was always ready to work with non-United Progressive Alliance and non-National Democratic Alliance parties. He said the Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the two alliances headed by them were weakening day by day. "The regional parties are gaining in strength, and they will form the next government at the centre," Naidu, who was convenor of the United Front which formed governments at the centre in 1996 and 1998, said. Mamata Banerjee, leader of the Tirnamool Congress, Wednesday said she spoke to Bihar Chief Minister and leader of Janta Dal-United Nitish Kumar and Odisa Chief Minister and leader of Biju Janta Dal Naveen Patnaik on the proposed front.