Chandrababu Naidu reaches out to non-BJP, non-Cong parties for support

Hyderabad: Setting in motion strategy to build pressure on the Centre to implement the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act in toto and deliver special category status for the state, a delegation of Telugu Desam MPs called on TRS secretary-general K Keshava Rao and sought the support of TRS MPs when they move a no-confidence motion against the NDA when Parliament meets for the monsoon session on July 18.

This is one of the three delegations dispatched by AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to the chiefs of Opposition parties at the national level to expose the BJP’s game plan of starving the state of funds and denying what has been promised in the AP State Reorganisation Act.

The strategy to charge up the atmosphere much ahead of the commencement of the Parliament session was taken by Chandrababu Naidu at the Parliamentary party meeting convened at his residence at Undavalli in Amaravati a few days. 

Naidu, despite the fact that he has several issues with the Telangana Rasthra Samiti (TRS), nonetheless sent the delegation to Keshava Rao’s residence where they persuaded him to direct the party to support their agitation in Parliament.

The delegation, which called on Keshava Rao comprised Sujana Chowdary, Konakalla Narayana and P Ravindra Babu. They narrated how the BJP had been denying what the state is constitutionally entitled to get and wanted the TRS to join TDP’s hands in baring the BJP’s political game of weakening the regional parties with an intention to gobble them up in due course of time.

The TRS leader, however, was circumspect in reacting to the request from the Telugu Desam MPs. He, however, said the TRS would support without any hesitation the demand for implementation of the AP State Reorganisation Act since Telangana’s interests were also involved in it. As regards supporting the no-confidence motion, he could not give an assurance straight away as it had to be discussed in the party forum.

The other delegation, which was to leave for Mumbai, could not get appointment with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackery and NCP president Sharad Pawar. Thackery was busy with some other work in view of torrential rains in Mumbai while Sharad Pawar was away from Mumbai.  

“We will make a representation to Shiv Sena MP Anand Rao Adsul and Sharad Pawar at Delhi tomorrow,” TDP floor leader in the Lok Sabha Thota Narasimham told The Hans India, adding that they are scheduled to meet CPI and CPM leaders on Monday evening. 

Rajya Sabha member CM Ramesh will lead another team to Chennai to meet AIIDMK and DMK leaders to elicit the support of their MPs for the TDP’s struggle in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu wrote to all political parties in the country except the BJP and Congress seeking support for no-confidence motion.  In his seven-page letter, Naidu gave the list of promises that the Centre had broken and how the state was in need of support from parties ranged against the BJP. He pointed out that the reorganised state was made eligible for only 46 per cent of the total revenue of undivided state though it had 58 per cent of the total population.