BJP badly betrayed people of Andhra, I had no other option: Chandrababu Naidu

 If his spirited speeches at the Mahanadu were anything to go by, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu was drumming up support ahead of what will be a decisive year electorally. In between asking TDP workers to ensure that the party does not lose a single one of the state’s 28 parliamentary seats, he told a select gathering of reporters in Vijayawada late Tuesday night that the Congress was an easier bet than the BJP. 

“Despite the BJP’s talk of clean governance, their closeness to Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya and the Reddys have proved otherwise. What sort of an image is the BJP building; in contrast, at least the Congress used to be afraid and shy.  We fought against Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and were instrumental in bringing the Sarkaria Commission. Now it is worse than that,” he said. 

His warming up to the Congress is seen as a crucial move ahead of the 2019 Assembly elections, but his party colleagues have univocally ruled out Naidu as Prime Minister. 

Edited excerpts from the questions DNA put to him.

Do you think that the TDP’s fallout with the BJP speeded up after Venkaiah Naidu left active politics?

The BJP had a troubled mind from the beginning and were delaying funds to Andhra Pradesh. I have no idea why but, I will only emerge stronger from this. After the last budget, I thought that it was a cruel injustice to Andhra. They have been saying different things. In the beginning, they promised us six to seven institutions out of eleven, and then kept away sufficient funds. Then they dodged the issue on deficit finance, and they said that the state is eligible for Rs 4,000 crores out of Rs 60,000 crores. In terms of backward area development, they refused to give anything more than Rs 50 crores per year for 6 years, which they released for a year. We submitted the utility certificates and the PM asked them to not release after which, they took back the money from the state’s account. This is their co-operative federalism. 

In the 1996 coalition experiment, you were one of the prime architects. The TDP has said that you does not want to be Prime Minister. What is your role then?  

We have been a responsible political party and never aspired for any position. NTR’s struggle has led to a lot of changes, and my efforts have led to two prime ministers -- Deve Gowda and IK Gujral. My support to Vajpayee led to a stable government of six and a half years. I see this as a contribution to the nation. The BJP has badly betrayed the people of Andhra Pradesh, and that is why I will have to fight. 

Right after the Karnataka elections, with the coalition efforts heating up, TDP leaders said that the party will not support a Congress leader at the helm. What are the TDP’s demands?   

How things will happen henceforth is a matter of time. But today because of NDA’s non-performance, people are annoyed. They are saying that the gateway to South India is Karnataka, and that itself is a bad statement. You are admitting that there is no entry. And, you want to enter through the back door. Recently, in Tamil Nadu when the PM went, the people demonstrated with black flags. Even Karunanidhi, at this age, wore a black shirt. What I’m saying is that they should have realised and supported Andhra. It is not a favour; it simply means that they are unable to digest the reality.     

What will be the TDP’s political strategy for the coalition effort?

IK Gujral’s leadership was changed with 24 hours because of the Congress’s demand. They asked me and asked everyone from Jyoti Basu to Karunanidhi, Lalu and Mulayam and all the star politicians. They then authorised me a senior man, who took on the mantle eventually. We are all in touch with each other. Wait and watch.