Targeting Modi, Naidu calls for BJP ouster in ’19

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Tirupati, April 30

Four years ago on April 30, Narendra Modi, as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, 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 (TDP) 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 Election so that he can decide the next Prime Minister. Demanding justice for Andhra, he also urged Telugu people in neighbouring Karnataka to vote against the BJP.

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 the high-voltage drama synonymous with political events of southern parties.

There were audio clips of Modi’s speeches translated by now Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, blaring 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”, Naidu wondered whether it was wrong to ask Modi to fulfil his promise especially when everyone was “witness to what he promised in his own voice”.

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

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

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 even win panchayat elections on its own in Andhra. Christened “Kutra Rajakeeyalapai Dharma Porata Bahiranga Sabha” (Fight against betrayal and collusion politics - public meeting), the rally is one of the many events Naidu will address in the run-up to the 2019 LS Election.