TDP chief and former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu clarified that he had no quarrel with the BJP in the past except on the issue of special status. He said that he asked for the special status as that is associated with emotions of the people of the state.
Speaking to the media for the first time after reaching a poll alliance with BJP, he made it clear that he would continue to bring everything related to the state to the notice of the Central government even after returning to NDA. He further asserted that he would continue to strive hard for the special status of the state and also oppose any move to privatize Visakha Steel Plant.
TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu has revealed that they have entered into an alliance with the BJP with the expectation that it will return to power at the Centre for the third consecutive term. Referring to some discontent among TDP cadres stating more seats are spared to BJP, more then their presence in the state, he said they have compromised in allocation of seats keeping in view of the interests of the state.
He said that change of government in the state is inevitable. Saying that the three parties (TDP, Janasena and BJP) have formed an alliance to rebuild the state which collapsed due to Jagan’s destructive regime, he said that this alliance was formed keeping in view the interests of the state and its people, but not for individuals or positions.
He admitted that his departure from NDA in 2018 has led to immense loss to the development of the state. He recalled that during his regime he had contributed a lot to the development of the state with the active support of the Narendra Modi government at the center.
He recalled that 72 percent of the construction of Polavaram was completed during his tenure. He said that Rs.350 crores for backward districts and Rs.2,500 crores for capital construction have been achieved in addition to central educational institutions under the Bifurcation Act.
But he accused the YCP government of failing to bring any resources from the center to the development of the state. Naidu deplored that the state has gone back 30 years due to the blow of YCP. Under these circumstances, he asserted that the cooperation of the Center is essential to bring the state again on the development path.
TDP chief said that even if TDP can win the polls without having an alliance with the BJP, the latter’s cooperation will be a must for the development of the state. He said that Jagan is in a state of panic with the alliance between three parties in the state and left no effort to break these efforts by creating differences among them. He felt Jagan wanted to return back to power with the division of votes among opposition parties.
Naidu appreciated Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan’s sincere efforts to materialize this alliance even by sacrificing some seats with a commitment for achieving `YCP free state’. “We are not egoistic. I am not sitting high feeling I have been Chief Minister for 14 years. All of us are realistic. Alliances are not new to TDP. We were with BJP during Vajpayee’s regime”, he added.
Stating that people are terrified with YSP’s misrule, Naidu said some people want to leave this state if YCP wins again. There is so much insecurity among them. These alliances are meant to create a better environment by eradicating such situations, he added.
Stressing the need to realise the prevailing difficult scenario in the state, he made it clear that there is a need for a stable government in the state along with the cooperation of the central government. Otherwise, he cautioned that the reconstruction of the state will not be possible.
