Lead coalition dharma, Akhilesh requests Chandrababu Naidu

Amaravati: In what should come as a shot in the arm for Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Samajwadi Party president and Uttar Pradesh former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav spoke to him over phone on Tuesday, requesting him to take an initiative to craft a coalition of anti-BJP parties to throw out the saffron brigade out of Delhi in the next general elections.

According to TDP sources, Akhilesh Yadav impressed upon Naidu to realise that he had to take the initiative further as it was in the interest of the nation and democracy. The phone call came from Akhilesh Yadav when Naidu was in Dharma Porata Deeksha at Praddatur in Kadapa district.

Akhilesh Yadav was effusive in praising Naidu for the efforts he was making to stitch an alliance to end the BJP's misrule at the Centre and that he was ready to extend his cooperation to him as he set out in crafting the coalition.

Akhilesh Yadav shared Chandrababu Naidu's view that Congress, as a national party, should be part of the coalition for a wider appeal. The TDP sources said that the Samajwadi Party leader had pointed out that federal spirit of the nation had taken a beating under the rule of the BJP.

There has got to be an end to the Prime Minister's dictatorship, Akhilesh Yadav said. Akhilesh Yadav apparently purple-prosed Naidu over the progress the state was making under his leadership.

The UP leader asked Chandrababu Naidu to continue with the same spirit and at the same time take the Centre by its horns by uniting all anti-BJP parties. Chandrababu Naidu while replying to Akhilesh Yadav said that the “ache din” promised by the BJP government were nowhere to be seen but corruption had become endemic and all pervasive.

Indian economy had collapsed under Modi's leadership, Chandrababu Naidu pointed out. Rupee value had sunk to abysmal depths, he said.He said that the saffron rule had exacerbated the distress in farm sector and that there was a sense of insecurity among the SCs, STs, Muslims, Christians and other minorities in the country.

Naidu, in his recent visit to Delhi, was closeted with BSP chief Mayawati and shared his angst for a change of guard at the Centre. Naidu also conferred with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others in his quick one-day trip.