Many Opposition parties that were earlier dragging their feet about joining the Congress in its protest against the government on the Rafale deal seem to be coming around. While the Communist Party of India (CPI) participated in a protest in Delhi last Friday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued a booklet on the Rafale controversy and conducted a public hearing to mobilise opinion on the subject.

After much prodding by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ( pictured) — who made a sudden trip to Delhi and addressed the media on Saturday — the Telugu Desam Party joined the Congress and the CPI in the protests at the CBI office in Hyderabad. The three parties are planning to contest the Telangana elections in an alliance. Other parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, have also added to the anti-government chorus.