CM Chandrababu Naidu hints at joining hands with Congress to defeat BJP at Centre
VIJAYAWADA: Sending enough signals that he would play a key role at the national level to unite all non-BJP parties to form an alternative, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday made it amply clear that he would not even hesitate to join hands with the Congress to achieve this goal.
Chandrababu Naidu, who was in Delhi to highlight before the national media the alleged failures of the Centre on various fronts as well as injustice done to AP, closeted with national party leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, BSP leader Mayawati, former JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah in the day and reportedly got support for his ongoing fight against the Centre and also to unite all non-BJP parties to defeat the saffron party in the 2019 elections.
During his media conference, Naidu accused the Centre of targeting AP after the TDP snapped its ties with the NDA and undermining institutions like CBI. He alleged that the BJP was inciting opposition parties in the State against his government. “Democracy came under severe threat during the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,’’ he remarked.
Speaking on CBI controversy, Naidu said, “Rakesh Asthana was the PM’s intelligence chief for some time. He (PM) brought him. The Prime Minister has to answer now. He is responsible for Asthana, for this debacle. Even our PM had said that all culprits in political corruption cases will be punished within one year. On the contrary, some people are escaping. You’re supporting tainted parties and victimising those who oppose you,” said Naidu. Responding to queries on the Congress being a political rival in Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said that it was not true since the YSR Congress, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, was the main foe of the TDP in the State.
He added that the ruling TRS was the main political rival of the TDP in Telangana.
On his role in national politics, Naidu said, “I have to play my role to save the nation.’’
Speaking about coalition governments, Naidu said even the minority government led by late PV Narasimha Rao did a lot for the country’s development by taking up reforms. P6
“Those coalition governments formed by regional parties at the Centre also made contribution to nation building. But hardly any development was witnessed under a single party government,’’ he observed.
Asked whether he would join hands with the Congress, which has ideological differences with the TDP, Naidu said, “We are part of Mahakutami (grand alliance) in Telangana. They (Congress) divided Andhra Pradesh but did it with assurances like special category status and AP Reorganisation Act. They damaged the State but gave something on paper. The NDA government is not implementing the Act causing grave injustice to the people of AP. Now, both of us are fighting for the same cause.’’
“Parties may have differences within the State. But, from a national perspective, they will come on to a single platform in the interests of the country. LDF (Left) and UDF (Congress) are rivals in Kerala, but they have joined hands at the Centre,’’ he said making the point that political compulsions make strange bedfellows.
Buttressing his argument, Naidu said, “There is no possibility of forming government at the Centre without the support of a national party.’’
“Those coalition governments formed by regional parties at the Centre also made contribution to nation building. But hardly any development was witnessed under a single party government,’’ he observed.
Asked whether he would join hands with the Congress, which has ideological differences with the TDP, Naidu said, “We are part of Mahakutami (grand alliance) in Telangana. They (Congress) divided Andhra Pradesh but did it with assurances like special category status and AP Reorganisation Act.
They damaged the State but gave something on paper. The NDA government is not implementing the Act causing grave injustice to the people of AP. Now, both of us are fighting for the same cause.’’
“Parties may have differences within the State. But, from a national perspective, they will come on to a single platform in the interests of the country. LDF (Left) and UDF (Congress) are rivals in Kerala, but they have joined hands at the Centre,’’ he said making the point that political compulsions make strange bedfellows.
Buttressing his argument, Naidu said, “There is no possibility of forming government at the Centre without the support of a national party.’’