Chandrababu’s Criticism Of Governor Stems From Fear

Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

"Governor ESL Narsimhan is acting on behalf of the Centre; he's not carrying out his duties as he ought to;the office of the Governor should be done away with." These were the statements made by Telugu Desam leaders in the past.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, TD ministers Nakka Ananda Babu and Atchannaidu have come out with similar statements now. Telugu Desam party leaders sing paeans in praise of the Governor and felicitate him when it suits them. When it doesn't, they shamelessly criticise him as an agent of the Centre. They question the BJP government's decision to continue his tenure.

This only points to one possibility. The talks between Chandrababu Naidu and the Governor seem to have failed. No one knows what transpired between Chandrababu and Governor Narsimhan, but it was widely reported that he was going to Delhi to submit a report to the Centre. However, Narsimhan returned to Hyderabad without meeting Prime Minister Modi or Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Does this suggest that the rift between PM Modi and Chandrababu Naidu is widening? On the one hand, opposition leaders are questioning the Centre on its failure to act against the TDP government in AP. Chandrababu, on the other, says that the people of the state should protect him if the Centre chooses to act against him. His statement has triggered several digs at him on social media. It is leaders who offer to protect the people and should not be pleading with them instead for protection from the Central government! This has evoked spontaneous satirical reaction on social media.

Somu Veeraraju of the BJP wondered why Chandrababu was afraid when he had done no wrong. Analysts suggest that his fear stems from the possibility of the Centre slapping cases against him in his mind. They say that it is evident that the AP Chief Minister knows that the Centre is aware of the irregularities and wrongs he has committed based on which Delhi can nail him.

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Chandrababu, it is obvious, wants the people of the state to think that false cases could be foisted on him and is preparing the ground for sympathy. This gives one the impression that Chandrababu is trying to pre-empt the Centre from acting against him. Some experts say that though it is difficult at this stage to predict whether cases would indeed be imposed on him, one thing is certain—Chandrababu is seized by a fear of this likelihood. Meanwhile, TDP leaders seem to have mounted an attack on the Governor. For TDP minister Ananda Babu to criticize the governor describing him as a subordinate of the Centre and a blot on the institution of the Governor suggests that these are the thoughts of Chandrababu Naidu.

It is widely believed that when Chandrababu Naidu found himself trapped in the 'Notes-for-Votes' case, Governor Narsimhan, along with then Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, played a key role in bringing about a reconciliation between the chief ministers of the two Telugu-speaking states.

Similarly, when four YSRCP legislators who defected to TDP, were sworn in as ministers, Chandrababu appeared to be very cordial and respectful towards the chief minister. At the time of the 'Note-for-Vote' case, TDP leaders warned that they would establish AP police stations in Hyderabad and ensure the implementation of section eight of the AP Reorganization Act (which deals with issues related to common capital and the Governor's responsibility with respect to law and order). Soon after, Chandrababu left Hyderabad, lock, stock and barrel rather abruptly, though he claimed to have done so for the sake of the people of AP.

In the past, Governor Krishna Kant had been favourable to Chandrababu Naidu. Though Chief Minister NTR had recommended the dissolution of the state assembly, the Governor backed Chandrababu Naidu in the events which unfolded at that time. Chandrababu Naidu did not have any problems with the Governor's institution then. It seemed to work to his convenience. However, he has differences with the Governor now, which is the trigger behind his criticism of the Governor.

NTR, as chief minister, had strong views about the institution of Governor and there were differences between him and the Congress-led Centre at that time. Charges and counter charges flew thick and fast during Kumudben Joshi's tenure as Governor. Ram Lal landed himself in the thick of controversy during the Nadendla Bhaskara Rao episode when he was in the Raj Bhavan. It must be said that Chandrababu Naidu stayed in power thanks to his ties with Governors, thanks to his match-fixing skills as widely known.

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Chandrababu Naidu did not ever have any problems with the institution of the Governor even during Vajpayee's time. Nor did he criticise Narsimhan in these four years. In fact, he tried to get Telangana Telugu Desam leader, Mothkupalli Narsimhulu a Governor posting till not long ago. It is only now that he has started criticizing Prime Minister Modi and Governor Narsimhan. In fact his criticism of the Governor has its roots in fear and we can probably conclude that the political games between the BJP and TDP have just begun!