NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finalized its alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Saturday for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh assembly elections. Former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed confidence that the coalition would achieve a sweeping victory. 

The alliance was formalized after discussions involving the two parties and the Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party (JSP), with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J.P. Nadda, Naidu, and Kalyan held another round of talks involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J P Nadda, besides Naidu and Kalyan.

A joint statement released by the three parties stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "dynamic and visionary" leadership, they have agreed to contest the Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh assembly elections together, committed to the progress of the country and the welfare of the state and its people. 

"We are confident that the alliance will meet the expectations of the people of Andhra Pradesh with their full support," the joint statement of Nadda, Naidu, and Kalyan stated. The details of seat-sharing for the 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175 assembly seats in the state will be discussed in the next day or two, according to the statement.

Though the parties are yet to inform about the number of seats each party in the alliance will contest, according to some sources the BJP and the JSP may together contest around eight Lok Sabha and 30 assembly seats. The TDP is likely to field candidates from the remaining 17 Lok Sabha and 145 assembly segments.

The Lok Sabha and assembly polls will be held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh. After the finalisation of the alliance talks, TDP president Naidu told reporters that Andhra Pradesh and its brand have been 'destroyed' by the state's ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party led by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He said that under Reddy the state has been pushed as a backward state even as the country was progressing fast. "The BJP and the TDP coming together is a win-win situation for the country and the state," Naidu said, adding, "Our alliance will sweep the polls."