What’s brewing between BJP & Jagan, asks Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday questioned the propriety of Prime Minister Narendra Modi granting audience to YSR Congress President YS Jaganmohan Reddy last year, and wondered if aloud whether it would not send the wrong signals.

He was speaking in the AP Legislative Council on Friday, on the current political developments in the State. Earlier in the day, the TDP walked out of the NDA and submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker a notice for a no-confidence against the government.

‘Why TDP quit the NDA’

Naidu explained at length the circumstances which led to the Telugu Desam Party quitting the Central government and later the ruling NDA coalition. Squarely blaming the BJP for “reneging on the implementation of the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014”, dishonouring the many promises made, including the one on granting special category status (SCS) to the State, he said, “Instead of doing justice to the State, the BJP is targeting me, making use of Jaganmohan Reddy, the Leader of Opposition, and Pawan Kalyan, Jana Sena Party leader,” he alleged.

“In this context, I wish to raise a question. Did we, the BJP and the TDP, not campaign in the last election in 2014 against ‘the scam-ridden Congress’ and ask for votes jointly, promising to root out corruption? Jaganmohan Reddy is accused No 1 in many ongoing cases of economic offence, and Vijay Sai Reddy [YSR Congress MP] is accused No 2. And now they have become very dear to the BJP. What signal does it send to the CBI officers investigating the cases? Suppose, as a Chief Minister if I meet a scam-tainted person, will it not send the wrong signal and will that person not misuse it ?”

The TDP supremo said the general perception in the State was that Jagan was prostrating in front of the BJP leaders to get some relief in these cases. “There is also propaganda that the Centre would concede to the demand for SCS if the YSR Congress MPs resign. Strangely, YSR Congress leaders who have given a notice for no-confidence motion are themselves expressing great faith in the honourable PM. Where, then, is the need for them to move a no-trust motion? Is it not a sham and an attempt to corner me?”

That was why, he said, the TDP did not deem it fit to merely support the no-trust move notice given by the YSR Congress and gave a notice on its own, after quitting the NDA. “We quit the NDA on Friday morning and immediately gave a notice for a no-confidence motion and several parties have come forward to express solidarity with us,” he said.

Rebutting the many allegations made by Jaganmohan Reddy and Pawan Kalyan, the Chief Minister said it was abundantly clear to the people of the State at whose behest they were making these allegations.

The CM, at the end of his emotional speech, moved a resolution condemning the attitude of the NDA government and listing out all the demands of the State. It was passed by the Council, adjourned to Tuesday.

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