Giving a fresh impetus to the ongoing efforts to stitch together an anti-BJP front to take on the BJP, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is holding extensive talks with Opposition leaders on the line of initiative undertaken by his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee.
Naidu has tried to give the impression that he is meeting the Opposition leaders to mobilise support for the no-confidence motion pending in Parliament, but the menu on the talking table included the contour of evolving Opposition unity.
With just two days to go to Parliament, it is obvious that the non-confidence motion cannot be taken up. That makes it clear that apart for highlighting the demand for Special Category Status to AP, Naidu is also trying to contribute to the ongoing efforts to unite the Opposition against the NDA.
On Wednesday, Naidu met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC), D Raja (CPI), V Maitreyan (AIADMK), Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal) and Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party).
On his arrival in Delhi on Tuesday, Naidu held extensive talks with NCP chief Sharad Pawar, TMC leaders Sudip Bandhopadhyay and Derek O’Brien, as well as Naresh Gujral (SAD ), SC Mishra (BSP) and Ananth Geethe (Shiv Sena). Naidu also held talks with leaders of the AIADMK, the DMK and the Shiv Sena.
He also met veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, Hema Malini and Jayant Sinha, and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia.
later talking to the Press, Naidu accused the BJP of “mud-slinging” and said the Centre was trying to “damage his credibility” ever since his party began the fight for special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister demanded setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to look at the issue. “After the State was bifurcated, we needed hand-holding and that is why we joined the NDA. We went for campaigns together and assured people that justice would be done and people voted for us,” Naidu said.
“Everyone thought the BJP combination would bring betterment. Despite my 29 visits to Delhi during the last four years, nothing has happened, except minor things. Major things are left to be done,” he said.
“People of Andhra Pradesh continue to feel betrayed. But why can’t the present Government have a reviewIJ Appoint JPC and tell them to have a look into the issue,” he said.
The Chief Minister also played clips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising the special category status to Andhra during public meetings in Nellore, Amaravati and Tirupati. “During a meet in Tirupati, the PM had said that the capital city of Amravati will be better than Delhi. He even advised me to visit Kazakhstan’s capital Astana to get ideas. I do not know what happened after that.
“Now when we are raising our voice, you (BJP) are harassing my Government. The Central Government is indulging in mud-slinging and it is painful. They want to damage my credibility which was built over a period of 40 years,” Naidu said.
When asked if he had reached out to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EK Palaniswami, the TDP chief said, “They should support our cause as both the States share an excellent relationship.”
“I did not reach out to the Tamil Nadu Government. But we are sharing Krishna River water with them and have an excellent relationship. So they should offer support to our cause,” he said.
Commenting on his rival YSRCP’s efforts for getting the SCS for the State, Naidu said, “I am fighting the attitude of the Central Government. I am not talking as TDP president. Some people may adopt different strategies or have a different agenda. But I want support of all parties.”
Naidu also accused the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) of reversing Rs 350 crore fund as special assistance to Andhra Pradesh, without any intimation.