Will Media Management Help Chandrababu?

Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

The presentation given by AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to the national media in Delhi and the comments he made on this occasion, make for interesting reading. He made a feeble attempt to speak on special category status and bifurcation of the state or present his argument rather, on the subject. In principle, there is nothing wrong with this. In reality however there are many discrepancies.

Since the national media does not really know how much of what he said is true and how much is not based on facts, he could complete his programme as he has intended. Of course, he did not forget to mention his four decades of political experience and his integrity. One wishes though, that somebody from the national media had asked him about what the YSRCP MP from Kurnool, Butta Renuka was doing in his TDP contingent! They should have asked whether this is what he means by credibility. They should have questioned him on how he bought 23 YSRCP MLAs and made four of them ministers in his cabinet. Nobody directed a question to him on cases against his MPs, Chandrababu's role in the notes-for-votes case or on the accusation made by YSRCP MP V. Vijaysai Reddy that he had taken Rs.150 crores as election funds from Vijay Mallya. An expert at media management, Chandrababu Naidu must have taken extra care to ensure that questions related to these issues would not crop up.

Shockingly enough, even Chandrababu Naidu‘s outlandish claim that he had “built" Hyderabad or that he alone was responsible for its development, went unchallenged and did not invite a question! Development is an ongoing activity, regardless of the government in power. However, Chandrababu Naidu claims that it was he who he “built" Hyderabad and that he would now build another capital city. Further, he claims that the Centre is not helping him in this by giving sufficient funds. One wonders what he would have said if someone were to point out that false utilisation certificates were given related to construction activity in the capital.

Chandrababu Naidu utilised the opportunity to play a video presentation to the national media, featuring the speeches made by PM Modi in election rallies back then. Not one mediaperson questioned Chandrababu Naidu on the number of times he changed his stance on the Special Category Status during these four years. Moreover, he tried to create the impression that there was a secret pact between YSRCP which has actually moved a no-confidence motion against the NDA government, and the BJP! For a party which has been BJP’s alliance partner for four years, this is indeed a very bizarre accusation to make.

Chandrababu Naidu it appears, is in the grip of a fear psychosis. He emphasised the point that PM Modi and the BJP are determined to foist cases on him and his government. He tried to paint himself as an innocent victim of vindictive politics being played by the ruling party at the Centre. He however, did not agree to a CBI probe. Clearly, this implies that he does not want people to pay serious attention to any allegations of corruption against him. This in turn, suggests that if a CBI inquiry is instituted against Chandrababu, he can then claim that he is a victim of vengeance and political vendetta. YSRCP MP Vijaysai Reddy questioned whether Chandrababu Naidu's Delhi visit was aimed at achieving SCS to AP and seek implementation of assurances in the AP Reorganisation Act or whether he had come to “manage“ certain institutions in the national capital. It is also believed that he held certain secret meetings there. While these are unconfirmed reports, the truth will emerge very soon. Chandrababu has already started lobbying to wriggle out of a situation which could potentially prove difficult for him in the near future. Let us keep our fingers crossed.