With his Telugu Desam party's stunning success in India's recent parliamentary elections, Naidu has become an indispensable component in the 24-party ruling National Democratic Alliance.

CNN: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

As exit polls had indicated, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party and its National Democratic Alliance won a comfortable majority in India's parliamentary elections.

CNN: ASIANOW - Asiaweek | Daily Briefing: New Stability in India?

Brown Mpinganjira was a founding member of President Bakili Muluzi's ruling party, but formed his own party, the National Democratic Alliance, partly to oppose the president's efforts to win a third term in office.

ECONOMIST: The war continues