Jagan’s comments reflect his state of mind, says Naidu

Maintain restraint to provocative statements, Chief Minister tells partymen

After maintaining restraint over YSR Congress president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s comment that ‘there is nothing wrong in shooting the CM’, Chief Minister and TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday gave vent to his anger by posing a counter question: “What would you call a person who says that the CM should be shot dead, hit with slippers, threatens a Collector that he will be imprisoned and a Police Commissioner that his pension will be denied? A maniac?”

Mr. Naidu was addressing a teleconference with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders.

“Mr. Jagan’s comments reflect his mental condition,” he said. “The people should understand and gauge the consequences if he were made Chief Minister.”

Mr. Naidu, in the same breath, asked the TDP cadres to maintain restraint even if the Leader of the Opposition stoops down to make provocative statements. The TDP cadres, however, should not leave space for the Opposition parties that were trying to instigate people on every possible occasion. It was also necessary to maintain cordial relations with allies in the interests of the State, he said.

Quoting surveys, the TDP president said: “The YSRCP won’t get more than 30 seats in the 2019 elections.” And time has come to gear up for these elections. The TDP also fulfilled 90% of its promises made in the election manifesto.

The government could achieve 80% public satisfaction. The communities that distanced themselves from the Telugu Desam were also coming close to the party impressed with the governance during last three years, he asserted.

Mr. Naidu asked the leaders to strike a balance between people and the cadres. Both were equally important for the party. The cadres remained with the Telugu Desam despite hardships. They were the real strength of the party. The leaders had to follow the party’s calendar invariably and conduct meetings as per schedule, he said.

The TDP leader congratulated the newly elected village, ward committee presidents and secretaries. The TDP flag should fly high in every village. The people would give us chance to be in power forever if the leaders’ responsiveness and credibility were up to their expectations. Party’s intintiki Telugu Desam was an occasion to take all the achievements of the government to the public, he added.