Keen to be PM-maker, not PM: Chandrababu Naidu

Amaravati: Aiming to play greater role in the ensuing general elections to defeat BJP, the TDP is contemplating to unite all political parties across the country, which are against the NDA.

Chief Minister and TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu said, “I am not interested to become Prime Minister. But I am keen on playing the role of a kingpin in determining who will be the next PM,” Naidu said at the TDP coordination committee meeting on Wednesday, according to party sources.

At the meeting, Naidu gave clarity to the party leaders on the future course of action. In fact, the Ministers and senior TDP leaders asked Chandrababu Naidu to give direction and then they would work as per his instructions. Responding to the request made by the party leaders, Chandrababu Naidu revealed the strategy to be adopted by them for the ensuing general elections. 

The TDP will support the Congress party at Centre to form government either directly through alliance or indirectly from outside the alliance. The TDP strongly believes that the Congress did damage to the State by bifurcating State unscientifically, but the BJP cheated Andhra Pradesh by not fulfilling the poll promises and not implementing AP Reorganisation Act in the true spirit.

Now, the TDP is seeing the BJP as its main enemy in the State. At the same time, the party leaders opined that already public gave punishment to the Congress in 2014 and it will take at least next 20 years for that party’s revival in the State. Hence, there was no need to further focus on the Congress, according to party sources. 

The TDP has decided to play a crucial role against the BJP since the NDA government did not cooperate for the development of Andhra Pradesh.
Chandrababu Naidu informed the party leaders that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was showing bias against the TDP and AP since 2014 itself. 

Though Modi did not concentrate for the first six months, he started harassing AP and Chandrababu Naidu after six months of rule onwards, the TDP opined. 

Naidu said Modi did not cooperate with AP in implementing AP Reorganisation Act, but supported the TRS and Telangana instead of doing justice to both the Telugu States. Chandrababu Naidu said that the party will support all the political parties that have been working against the BJP in the country.  The TDP has been eagerly waiting for another best platform to show the strength of regional parties.  

Naidu said the TDP defamed BJP by moving No-Confidence Motion in the Lok Sabha recently. Party president N Chandrababu Naidu shared common dais with Congress, Aam Aadmi, Janata Dal (Secular) and other parties in Karnataka recently, when H D Kumaraswamy formed government with the support from Congress. 

The TDP entered into an alliance with the Congress in Telangana Assembly elections. Party supremo is of the opinion that the TDP should utilise all opportunities against BJP.

The Chief Minister will participate in Dharma Poratam public meetings in Kadapa on October 20, Anantapur in December and Amaravati in January. The public protest meetings will conclude with the Amaravati meeting. On the other hand, the party membership renewal will commence soon.