Proximity with Chandrababu Did Haribabu In

Has close hobnobbing with the TDP and its supremo Chandrababu Naidu harmed Vizag MP and Andhra Pradesh BJP president Kambalapati Haribabu? His name was reportedly finanlised and he was even asked to make himself available at Delhi on Sunday. Everyone believed Harbabu would find place in the Modi-led BJP Government's ministry. But, when the final call was taken, Haribabu did not figure in the list.

The buzz in the political circles is that Haribabu's closeness to TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu weighed heavily against him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in fact finalised Hari Babu name, but his proximity with Chandrababu proved to be the biggest offsetting factor. Narendra Modi reportedly did not want a pro-Chandrababu man in his cabinet. Haribabu was seen as leaning towards the TDP and this virtually sealed his fate. This is also being seen as a warning to all those BJP leaders who are hobnobbing with the TDP to the detriment of the mother party.