If Only Chandrababu Showed The Same Concern To ‘Save’ AP...

By Reshmi AR

TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu's opportunistic, chameleon-like character need not be over-emphasised. However, what needs to be highlighted is the haste with which he has been meeting leaders of opposition parties across the country. The impression he seeks to portray is that he is the rallying force bringing together all the anti-Modi forces as he did as per his claims in 1996. The truth, however, is that Chandrababu far from trying to save democracy, is desperately seeking to save his own skin.

While on the subject of democracy, one only has to look at Chandrababu's track record in his own state where all democratic institutions have been systematically devalued. For instance, at the grassroot level, Panchayats have become all, but defunct with Janma Bhoomi Committees packed with TDP leaders at the local level, dictating terms. Similarly, Chandrababu has been ruthless in stifling voices of criticism and allows only his chosen media outlets to function freely. Is this democracy?

The AP Chief minister's delusional antics, oddly enough, are picked up not only by his favourite media houses but by prominent national media outlets as well. IT goes without saying that his media management skills have always been exceptional, though he does not seem to have realised that it has little bearing on electoral fortunes. This time around, with income tax raids having been conducted on the properties and assets of some of his close associates, including TDP Rajya Sabha MP CM Ramesh, Revanth Reddy and several others, Chandrababu is gripped by a state of paranoia. He reckons that his friendship with the Congress and other opposition parties, his projection of himself as one of the central unifiers in the opposition ranks would help him get insulated from Income Tax and ED raids in the days and weeks to come.

Also Read: Chandrababu’s AP Cabinet Expansion To Woo Dalit, Muslim Voters?

Little does the TDP chief realise that in the final analysis, it will be at the hustings that his fate would be decided. Should the Centre decide to expose the levels of corruption he's being accused of by all opposition parties in AP, none of those national leaders he has been dining and sipping tea with, can save him.

It is clear that it is more a case of his own survival than the interests of the stand that Chandrababu is worried about. Had the AP chief minister demonstrated similar concern and met leaders of all opposition parties when the YSRCP moved a no-trust vote against the NDA government seeking special category status to AP, things probably would have been vastly different. However, at that point the TDP chief decided not to back the YSRCP motion and chose instead to bring his own no-trust vote, which without the required muscle fell through expectantly. If he is truly out to save democracy now and wants to make sure that the BJP fulfills all its commitments under the AP State Reorganisation Act 2014, what was he doing for four years? Why did he hail the financial package given to the state? Did he not claim that AP got more funds from the Centre when compared to any other state in the country? How come this sudden epiphany that BJP is inimical to the interests of Andhra Pradesh? The answers to these questions and others along this line of reasoning, are clear.

Chandrababu Naidu hopes that his new-formed ties will help him tide over the crisis that could hit him in the form of a thorough exposure of his humongous corruption levels as is being alleged by all opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh.

Also Read: We Have To Save The Nation, Stalinji Better Than Modi: Chandrababu