Probably, for the first time Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen in Andhra Pradesh making all efforts to express his attachment with TDP and its chief N Chandrababu Naidu at the latter’s swearing-in ceremony near Vijayawada on Wednesday. Soon after Chandrababu took oath, Modi congratulated him with a warm hug. He was also seen extending similar pleasuntaries to all on the dais.
But, former chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, who has been making efforts for the last 10 years to create a gulf between Modi and Naidu and succeeded to some extent, seems to be uneasy. In a way on the same day, he tried to send a warning signal to BJP leadership, particularly PM Modi that they cannot discount him and his party’s base.
Almost parallel to Chandrababu’s swearing-in ceremony, YCP MPs held a media conference in Delhi and accused Chandrababu’s regime is vindictive towards their party supporters and TDP cadre are resorting to attacks on YCP workers.
Observers felt that though YCP MPs didn’t mention BJP or its leaders in their press meeting and targeted only TDP, their main intention was to send signals to the BJP not to come in their way. By accusing BJP’s strongest ally TDP of attacking them and attempting to make it an issue at national level, they tried to indicate their importance also.
However, it is interesting to note that they assured `issue-based’ support to BJP. That makes their intention clear that if BJP needs TDP’s crucial support in the Lok Sabha, they also need their support in the Rajya Sabha, where they are having 11 MPs.
YCP Parliamentary Party leader Vijayasai Reddy said openly that YCP has the strength of 11 members in the Rajya Sabha and BJP will still have to rely on them. He also recalled that TDP does not have a single Rajya Sabha member.
During 2014-19, Jagan maintained close relations with the BJP, even though the Telugu Desam Party was in the NDA alliance. Vijayasai Reddy played a key role in establishing these relationships. They pressured the TDP to come out of the NDA alliance in the name of special status for the state.
But now YCP is weaker than then. Many political observers are suspicious of the fate of 11 YCP Rajya Sabha members, equal to their strength in the AP Assembly, as most of them are said to be in constant contact with BJP. If YCP dare to fight against BJP, it will be doubtful how many of their Rajya Sabha members will remain with them.
Through this media conference, it is felt that YS Jagan has sent signals to PM Modi and other BJP leaders that they cannot ignore their presence in the company of the newly found TDP.
