Modi his main target, Naidu calls for ouster of BJP in 2019

Vibha Sharma & Suresh Dharur

Tribune News Service

Tirupati, April 30

Four years ago on April 30, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had made certain “promises to 5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh, including according Special Category Status to the state”, from the abode of Lord Balaji, said the ruling TDP, BJP’s now-estranged partner.

Demanding accountability from the same venue – Tarakarama Stadium, cradled by the divine Tirumala hills -- the Telugu Desam Party on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister.

TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked people of the state to give him all the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the next general elections so that he could decide the next Prime Minister of the country. Demanding justice for Andhra, he also urged Telugus in neighbouring Karnataka to vote against the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Though rain put a spanner in organisers plans to "nail Modi" with "visual proof of his promises", the TDP show of strength had all the makings of a high-voltage drama synonymous with political events of southern parties.

There were audio clips of Modi's speeches translated by none other than now Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, thumping music, enthusiastic crowds and chest-beating leaders promising to “teach Modi a lesson" for his betrayal.

Warning that the Centre may “slap false cases against him”, the TDP president questioned: “Is it any wrong to demand Narendra Modi to fulfil his promise. We all are witness to what he promised in his own voice.”

“Narendra Modi promised to build capital better than Delhi. But he gave only Rs 1,500 crore to Amaravati while Rs 2,500 crore is given to build a statue (of Sardar Patel in Gujarat),” Naidu said.

“Bullet train for Ahmedabad, Rs 30,000-40,000 crore for Bengaluru and Mumbai suburban trains, more funds for Gujarat. Are we not eligible for development? The Centre is giving funds to Dholera city in Gujarat which already has Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Don’t we need a capital city like other states," he asked.

Also under attack was BJP's growing closeness with arch rival YSR Congress. Naidu alleged that the BJP “colluded with a tainted party, YSR Congress, to do injustice to 5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh”.

Naidu's son Nara Lokesh, state IT Minister, said the BJP cannot win even panchayat elections on its own in Andhra. He also accused Modi of “colluding with Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who as qaidi No. 6093 goes to CBI court every Friday in corruption cases”.

Christened "Kutra Rajakeeyalapai Dharma Porata Bahiranga Sabha” (Fight against betrayal and collusion politics - public meeting), the rally is one the many events Naidu will address in the run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to boost his sagging fortunes.

During the Budget session, TDP MPs staged protests inside and outside Parliament and even outside Prime Minister’s residence demanding justice to Andhra Pradesh. 

'Morphed'

However, the BJP MLCs Somu Veerraju and PVN Madhav alleged that the TDP had morphed the video clips to suit its present political agenda, and accused the TDP of resorting to mudslinging to defame the Prime Minister.

”Modi never promised special category status in any of the election meetings at Tirupati, Nellore or elsewhere as claimed by the TDP leaders.

The video clips were morphed to suit their political agenda and were also shown to the journalists in Delhi by Naidu. Modi wanted to create a capital like New Delhi in Andhra Pradesh and assured support to realise the dream. This fact is being distorted by the TDP to cover up their failures,” the BJP leaders said.

”TDP is trying to mislead the public by twisting facts and distorting Modi’s Tirupati speech. Nowhere in his Tirupati speech did Modi utter a word about Special Category Status. This is nothing but playing with the sentiments of the people,” a BJP MP from Narsapur Gokaraju Gangaraju in Vijayawada said.

The TDP, which has 16 Lok Sabha MPs, ended its alliance with BJP in March following denial of special status to the AP. Since then, the two parties have been attacking each other.