Thursday, August 25 2005 13:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Seeking to downplay the statement by National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance partner Telugu Desam Party (TDP) that it would have no relations with 'religion-based' parties, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yesterday (August 24, 2005) said it was not such a party.

"BJP is not a religion-based party. Our membership is open to all," Parliamentary Party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters when asked about the reported comment of TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu.

He said there are Muslim political parties in Parliament and Naidu must have talked about them.

Naidu is reported to have said that in our country, there is no scope for religion-based political parties.

Irrespective of Malhotra's statement, the BJP is going to discuss the issue, considering that TDP is a major alliance partner of the NDA and had played a crucial role in cobbling up the coalition, party sources said.

In Andhra Pradesh, the two parties have already parted ways, with both deciding to contest upcoming municipal elections separately.