Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday met Opposition leaders in New Delhi to gather support for a unified front against the NDA government, saying he had anchored many such fronts in the past but also admitting that a national party was a requirement to reach critical mass for such an endeavour.
Mr. Naidu met his Delhi counterpart, Arvind Kejriwal, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Loktantrik Janata Dal president Sharad Yadav, and former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha.
At a press conference, Mr. Naidu argued for a united front against the Modi government at the Centre, which he attacked for decisions such as demonetisation and the currently raging issue of sending CBI chief Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana on administrative leave.
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The visit, however, was clearly political in that Mr. Naidu not only met several leaders but also highlighted the obstacles and possibilities of an Opposition unity in his statements.
Public confidence
Asked about the status of the Congress in such a grouping, Mr. Naidu said, “Without a national party, you cannot form a government at the Centre. We have to give confidence to the people now. All of us have to join together, those who are interested in the nation.”
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He said many Opposition parties had their own local compulsions, but a way had to be found around them.
“In India, there are political and ideological compulsions. In one State, two political parties are facing each other and then they want to join at the national level, which is where you have a problem. It is a political compulsion and the overall welfare of the nation has to be seen. How to join is the question. After elections many people might come,” he said.
He explained his own party’s rather unusual tie-up with the rival Congress in Telangana. “It is a democratic compulsion. In Telangana, our party is having an alliance, Mahakutami , with the Congress,” he said.
He remained silent on the question of leadership, and defined his role as a kind of fulcrum for the unity.
“I have to play my role. I am a small man, I know that my province has only 25 seats. I want to work on how to save this great nation,” he said.
Attack on Jagan
He answered questions on the recent knife attack on YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy. “The Opposition leader came to the Visakhapatnam airport. Some person attacked him with a knife. The airport is under the Central Industrial Security Force. After some time, they handed over that fellow and our people took him into custody. But the BJP accused the Telugu Desam Party government,” Mr. Naidu said.
He also expressed his displeasure at Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan directly asking Andhra Pradesh Director-General of Police R.P. Thakur for a report on the incident, bypassing the State government.