After a decade, TDP and BJP have managed to forge an alliance again. But whether they will be able to repeat their 1999 poll success, when the AB Vajpayee-headed NDA formed the Government, remains a big question.
Together, they had bagged 36 of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies, with BJP garnering seven seats riding the Vajpayee wave.
But, today, the circumstances are vastly different.
Soon after the polls, Andhra Pradesh will be divided, with Telangana and Seemandhra having different electoral and developmental issues. In this backdrop, it may be tough for the combine to repeat its past performance in the polls to the Lok Sabha and State Assembly. The TDP has parted with eight Lok Sabha (of 17) and 47 Assembly (of 119) seats in Telangana and five Lok Sabha (of 25) and 15 Assembly (of 175) constituencies in Seemandhra.
Both parties have claimed they will integrate their cadres to ensure success. But the ground realities seem to be different.
Already, there is disgruntlement among both the cadres over seat allocation. In fact, this was the issue that had been holding up the alliance announcement for more than two weeks.
The TDP and the BJP will face many challenges in integrating cadres at the ground level and also keeping the unhappy leaders under control.