New Delhi: Despite elusive consensus on the name of prime ministerial candidate, Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu said that an opposition alternative to the BJP-led NDA will emerge “automatically”. He said that this will happen even without its prime ministerial face being declared for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Naidu, a former BJP ally who quit the NDA early this year over the Centre’s refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, also offered to play a “pivotal” role to bring all the opposition parties together to forge an united front.

“An alternative (front) will emerge automatically. People are angry with the Modi government and they will choose an alternative,” Naidu, 68 said.

Naidu also felt non-selection of a prime ministerial candidate by an opposition front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls will not hurt its prospects.

“ I do not visualise any problem if the PM candidate of the opposition front is not decided before the polls.” “As a responsible citizen, I will work out (an alternative). Definitely I will play my role as a responsible citizen. We will be instrumental in bringing all parties together who are keen to work in the interest of the nation,” Naidu said.

He said discussions are still going on with various parties over forging an opposition alliance.

“Recently, I met Karnataka chief minister of JD(S). We are discussing with other parties as well,” he said but did not give details.

Stating that political alliances are not stitched overnight, Naidu said even in the past, pre-poll and post-poll alliances took place in “a different situation and in different times.” “No one could predict a prime ministerial candidate in some past situations.” He felt the choice of the prime ministerial candidate will depend on various circumstances. At the same time, he said it will not be prudent to declare the candidate before the polls as sometimes the plans to forge an opposition alliance could get sabotaged.