Beware of BJP: Chandrababu Naidu

​Hyderabad: TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday indicated that whatever political alliance that would emerge during the ensuing Assembly elections in Telangana would form the basis for taking on the BJP at the national level during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing party leaders and workers at the NTR Trust Bhavan, Naidu minced no words in saying that people should think in broader terms and see how the BJP-led Central government was trying to indulge in vindictive politics and was trying to drive a wedge between the people of two Telugu-speaking states. 

“They ditched the people of Andhra Pradesh and failed to fulfil the promises made in the AP State Reorganisation Act. Now, they are trying to encourage TRS to see that they succeed in retaining power in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah are implementing the policy of divide and rule,” Naidu said and called upon the people to understand the real game plan of the BJP.

The AP CM also threw hints that it may not be possible for him to come for campaign and asked the rank and file to lead the party on their own in the state. He said he was busy striving to develop Andhra Pradesh and hence he cannot come to Telangana as Chief Minister of AP.

Referring to a comment made by film actor Sivaji, who said that the Centre would send notices to him on Monday, Naidu said he would not be cowed down by such threats. The TRS and people of Telangana should be cautious as the BJP under the present leadership has the tendency to make promises and never implement them.

It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister was not behaving like a statesman. He should have learnt lessons from Vajpayee. He should learn to show tolerance towards all parties and sections of the people.

Naidu said even some of the important leaders who left the TDP after 2014 elections are now willing to come back to the party fold and expressed regret for taking a wrong decision. The party should accept them and work to rebuild the TDP into a major force, he added.  Interestingly, Naidu was very careful and did not either refer to KCR or TRS directly nor did he make any comments criticising them indicating that his fight was against the BJP at the Centre and it was not a local fight.