Dealing With AP Under Chandrababu, A Lesson For PM Modi

Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

For the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke out categorically on the corrupt practices in the Chandrababu Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh. Urging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers to take the truth into the masses, he said like nowhere else across the country, 10 educational institutions with thousands of crores of rupees of budget were set up in AP.

PM Modi added that the TDP-Congress alliance in AP would have a repeat of its performance in Telangana elections. In a way, it could be said that the BJP is happy for Praja Kutami's loss despite losing deposits itself in Telangana.

Now, with AP at the centre-stage of political discourse, it becomes an interesting analysis to see what the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) would be up to minus BJP and the Jana Sena Party. Ever since Chandrababu opted out of the NDA, he has been vocal against PM Modi. Adding to his criticism was the alliance with Congress. At times, his criticism of Modi crossed the line of dignity. Except for commenting that Chandrababu behaved in an immature fashion and commending KCR's work post-bifurcation, the Prime Minister did not make any comments on Chandrababu.

After saying that Sonia Gandhi was a demon and that she had stashed Rs 4.5 lakh crore in Italy, Chandrababu is now making similar comments against the BJP. There was a time when Chandrababu said the BJP-TDP alliance was made for a growth story. He was often seen in a happy mood when he addressed meetings along with the then BJP minister and current Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu. Now that TDP is not a part of NDA, does Chandrababu blame Venkaiah Naidu as well?

The TDP did not condemn the BJP's statement on the Centre allocating Rs 1.40 lakh crore to AP. PM Modi said corruption reached a new high in AP. If it was true, he was equally responsible for tolerating it. Why did the Centre hand over the Polavaram project to the State even though it's a national project? Why did the BJP not ask about the Rs 2,500 crore investment given for Amaravati development? Why did the Union Minister remain silent over the State government's lies on the readiness of High Court building? Why did PM Modi allow TDP MP Sujana Choudhary, who had defaulted the banks of Rs 6,000 crore, to continue in the Union cabinet? Why is it that the Central ministers stayed mum when Chandrababu complained of a BJP conspiracy?

Is it because of the fact that BJP does not have a large voter base in AP? By criticising PM Modi, Chandrababu and the TDP leaders are causing damage to AP. Why did the Centre not order for a CBI probe when it knew there were corrupt practices in Polavaram project? Although CBI is disallowed in the State, they could have approached the Courts. After having compromised in the note for vote case, the BJP is now complaining of corruption. The BJP did not take action in the note for vote case and the defection of 23 YSRCP MLAs, because the TDP was its ally in NDA at the time.

Therefore, irrespective of being friends and foes politically, governments should act in the right spirit. This is a good lesson to PM Modi.

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