The Modi-Shah duo’s political ‘master stroke’ to move M Venkaiah Naidu out of the Union Cabinet and make him Vice-President has in a way weakened Chandrababu Naidu’s reach within the NDA government. It was an open secret that Venkaiah Naidu as Union Minister with important portfolios was a ‘frequent flyer’ to both the Telugu States and more to AP. The Naidu duo participated in many events and developmental activities in AP.
Chandrababu, unlike his influential years during the United Front and Vajpayee led NDA of 1996 to 2004, where he was a kingmaker and had his say, finds himself a ‘pale shadow’ in the NDA led by Modi. He just has two lightweight Ministers – Ashok Gajapathi Raju (Civil Aviation) and YS Chowdhury, a junior Minister in S&T – who can deliver little.
Tough times
Overall, Chandrababu finds himself in a unenviable situation. Breaking away from the NDA alliance also in not an easy option, given the disarray in the Opposition and his stated anti-Congress stand. The surveys showing high popularity of Narendra Modi and lack of assertive leaders among the regional parties are not encouraging news either.
On the home turf, the people of AP have become restive. They want him to deliver on promises. On two counts Chandrababu finds himself on a sticky wicket: Jagan is waiting with open arms to tie up with the BJP in 2019. Secondly, the role of the TDP chief in the ‘Vote for Note’ scam of 2015 Telangana Legislative Council election is `dormant’ and can always emerge as a serious irritant.
His biggest advantage as far as AP is concerned is the huge baggage of corruption cases that Jagan carries around. Next, though his image as a ‘doer’ is getting dented, the tireless efforts he is putting in for the development of the State can give him an edge over Jagan, unless the young, restless and temperamental YSR Congress chief can somehow get his act together by sobering down and overcome his recent political past.