Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has caused massive ripples in the national politics by kicking off his mission “Save Future, Save Democracy” on Thursday with a meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, a bitter political opponent till recently.
The meeting in New Delhi marks the biggest and dramatic move towards stitching together an national alliance of opposition parties against the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre.
The meeting, which was unthinkable in the recent past given the traditional anti-Congress stand of TDP, in the backdrop of turbulent political situation in the country and what opposition sees a “serious threat to democracy and constitutional bodies”.
Earlier in the morning Naidu also met veteran politicians including Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also met Naidu in the morning soon after Naidu reached Delhi in the morning.
This was Naidu’s second visit to Delhi in less than a week. During his earlier visit he met Bahujan Samaj Party leader and Dalit icon Mayawati, Delhi Chief Minister and AAM Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and socialist leader Sharad Pawar.
After the meeting with Dr Farooq Abdullah and Sharad Pawar at latter’s residence, Naidu told the media that the other two senior leaders had instructed him to talk to all the non BJP parties.
Expressing deep concern over the happenings in the country and serious threat to democracy and constitutional institutions Naidu said that the country was facing serious problems and passing through a very bad situation.
“We have to protect the future generation and future of this great national. That is our mission.
We do not have any ambition. We are not for power or seats but our interest is only the nation that is why we are all working”, Naidu said.
“Convenient to all of us anti BJP parties, we will meet and chalk out a program and will take the momentum forward”, he said.
Describing Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdulla senior most politicians in the country he said that he will discuss the situation with other senior leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Expressing his concern over the happenings in the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate and the Reserve Bank of India, Sharad Pawar said, “Let us stand united against this government”. He said that all the opposition parties were welcome to join them.
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Farooq Abdullah said that he, Shard Pawar and Naidu were of firm believe that India was passing through troubled times. “As Mr. Pawar highlighted not just the people but the institutions of this country are seeing trouble. We all must act. We have to save democracy. It is our duty and that is why we have come together”, he said.
Chandrababu Naidu who had a reputation as an architect of alliances including the United Front in 1996 and NDA-1 in 1999 had a change of heart towards the Congress party after the ruling BJP started hounding him following TDP’s decision to walk out of Modi-led coalition government in March this year. He also ended his party’s alliance with the BJP in the state.
Naidu revolted after Narendra Modi regime failed to keep its promises to Andhra Pradesh including granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh following the bifurcation of the state. After a spate of raids by Income Tax department against the companies and businesses of Telugu Desam Party leaders Naidu alleged that BJP had hatched conspiracy to destabilise his government.
The first hint that TDP may do business with its bête noire Congress came when the two parties agreed for an alliance in neighbouring Telangana state. Congress and the TDP are part of a grand alliance against the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti for the assembly elections scheduled for December 7.
