HYDERABAD, 12 January 2004 — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday hoped the Telugu Desam Party would join India’s ruling National Democratic Alliance after the upcoming general elections.

“(Chief Minister) Chandrababu Naidu is our partner in Andhra Pradesh but he has not joined our government. We are disappointed about this,” said Vajpayee while addressing a big pre-election rally here.

The TDP, which rules Andhra Pradesh, supports the NDA government from outside. Naidu said earlier in the day the party would maintain the status quo after the elections.

Thanking the TDP for the support, Vajpayee praised the Naidu government’s performance and also referred to the changing face of Hyderabad.

He also cited the five million tones of rice the federal government had provided to Andhra Pradesh during last year’s drought and to the 6.5 billion rupees given for a road development program.

Referring to the state government’s demand for setting up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the state, he expressed confidence the aspirations of the people would be fulfilled.

Expressing concern over the growing Maoist violence in several states, including Andhra Pradesh, he asked the guerrillas to give up arms and return to the path of peace as violence would not solve any problem.

“Some youths have gone astray and have taken to arms for revolution but they should give up arms as changes can be brought only in a peaceful and democratic manner,” he said.

On foreign relations, the prime minister termed the India-Pakistan decision to resume their dialogue as the beginning of a “new chapter”.

Vajpayee held out the hope the cease-fire on the frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir would be observed and trade ties between the two neighbors would improve.

“The understanding between the two nations in Islamabad is the beginning of a new chapter. We want friendship with our neighbor, we hope the pact will be observed and will lead to peace,” Vajpayee said as BJP chief M. Venkaiah Naidu translated the speech into Telugu for the benefit of the 100,000-strong gathering.

In his speech, Vajpayee did not mention national elections which are likely to be held in March.

Earlier in the day, Naidu told newsmen: “The party will deliberate (on the date of elections) and make known its preference but it is the prerogative of the prime minister to take a final decision.” BJP leaders met behind closed doors in a convention center festooned with the party’s trademark saffron and green flags and its election symbol, the lotus.

Posters of Vajpayee and banners hailing his government’s performance decorated a four-km (two-mile) stretch of road leading to the venue.

The tone for the conclave was set Saturday with party general secretary Pramod Mahajan suggesting elections will be held in March. The deadline is Sept. 30.

Another BJP spokesman, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, said the elections should be held by mid-April before the harvest season sets in.

Javadekar said the BJP wanted to take advantage of a strong showing in December regional elections and on a “feel-great” factor with soaring growth and peace moves with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, police said they have arrested four Muslim men for allegedly plotting to kill a state BJP leader. “The four were conspiring to eliminate N. Indrasen Reddy,” said Police Commissioner R.P. Singh.

— Additional input from agencies