Rahul for PM not my stand: Naidu

​Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said that he does not share DMK president MK Stalin's view that Rahul Gandhi should be the prime ministerial candidate of the Opposition in the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha. The issue of prime minister candidate would be decided post-elections only, he said.

Interacting with senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai at the second day of India Today Conclave South-2018, Naidu said they (anti-BJP parties) should not jump the gun and announce a candidate before the elections. While reacting to M K Stalin statement on December 16 that Rahul Gandhi should be the Opposition's prime ministerial candidate, Naidu said it might be the stand of the DMK but not that of the entire Opposition.   

Defending the TDP's tie-up with its longtime rival Congress, Naidu termed the development as one necessitated by a democratic compulsion. As democracy and country were under severe threat in the BJP dispensation, he had taken an initiative to bring all the anti-BJP parties under one umbrella. Those who want to protect democracy have to come together to fight the BJP, he stressed.

Naidu alleged that the Modi government was running down the Indian economy and that a stage has come where it is being felt that anyone is better than Narendra Modi. During Modi's four and half years’ regime, the entire nation felt that it had been taken for a ride.

"Modi says he is very strong. But what has he done for the nation? The people are not able to sleep in comfort. The government's initiatives such as Start-Up India and Stand-Up India are mere slogans,” Naidu said. He sought to remind Modi about the promises he had made during the 2014 general election. Modi came to power by accusing the UPA government and, therefore, there should have been some difference between the two governments. "But I do not see any qualitative difference," he pointed out. 

Naidu accused the Modi government of misusing power by using Central agencies, including the CBI, ED and Income Tax departments, for his political ends. He accused the Central agencies of threatening and blackmailing politicians and businessmen.

“Narendra Modi had promised to double the income of farmers, but he proved to be a disaster. The atrocities being committed against the SCs are on the rise. And Muslims are feeling insecure," Naidu said, adding: "Initially, I believed in Modi and his slogans. But today, the entire nation feels cheated. I want to save the nation. Like-minded people should come together. All those who oppose the BJP, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, have to join this national endeavour."