VIJAYAWADA: Dispelling rumours that he was considering feelers from the INDI Alliance, Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday attended the NDA meeting in Delhi. Pictures of the meet showed the Andhra leader being seated right next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The TDP is the second largest party in the NDA with 16 MPs.
Top party sources said Naidu has taken a firm stand that he wants to play a key role in the Modi 3.0 government. He is also learnt to have given the BJP brass a list of demands. These include the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post and at least five portfolios for the regional party.
The TDP is keen on the Speaker’s position because it comes with immense power and access, and the Chair will play a crucial role in case of a hung Parliament. Late GMC Balayogi from the party had served as Speaker in the A B Vajpayee government from 1998 to 2002.
A TDP MP said the party wants rural development, housing and urban affairs, ports & shipping, road transport & highways, and Jal Shakti ministries. It is also keen to have a junior minister in the finance ministry as the state is in dire need of funds.
As Naidu wants to resume development of Amaravati as Andhra capital, the urban affairs portfolio will come in handy. Similarly, he needs the rural development ministry to fulfil his promise of developing rural infrastructure in the state. Three industrial corridors pass through the state; hence, the demand for road transport and highways ministry.
The state has four ports under development, which can be completed fast with the help of the ports & shipping ministry. Naidu hopes to complete the Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project with the help of the Jal Shakti ministry. However, he may not insist on this portfolio owing to conflict of interest: Andhra Pradesh has river water disputes with Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha.
Kaun banega Odisha CM?
Speculations are rife over who would be the next Odisha CM. Among names making the rounds are Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP national V-P Baijayant Panda and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi
INDIA to stay in Opposition
The INDIA bloc leaders on Wednesday resolved to continue to fight against the BJP’s “fascist rule”. “Will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realise the people’s desire not to be ruled by the BJP,” said Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge