Chandrababu’s Projecting Himself As Martyr To SCS Cause

30 Mar, 2018 19:23 IST|Sakshi
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu

Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

The all-party meeting for special category status to AP, convened by Chandrababu Naidu lost its significance completely with primary opposition parties not participating in it. In fact, even the Left parties were very clear about the way forward. They refused to go along with Chandrababu Naidu in his professed agitation for SCS to AP. Both CPM secretary Madhu and CPI secretary Ramakrishna spoke with great clarity on the subject. Jana Sena founder and actor Pawan Kalyan was emphatic in his statement—he said Chandrababu Naidu was trying to pass the buck onto others and make everybody a part of his game and share his sins. He refused to make common cause with him now considering Chandrababu had never spoken about SCS in these four years.

The Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly and YSRCP Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was even clearer and unequivocal. He wondered whether this was only another U- turn in the series of U-turns which Chandrababu Naidu had made over the past four years. Oddly enough, the Congress party did not merely take part in the all-party meeting but sat through the entire proceedings. The party welcomed the fact that Chandrababu Naidu had convened the all-party meeting.

Contrast this with Chandrababu Naidu’s attitude towards parties which had very little representation in the legislature. He looked down on such parties and scoffed at them. However, it is not hard to discern why he had extended an invitation to the Congress or the left parties.

Chandrababu Naidu wants special category status to AP seem like a protest being led by him in the interests of the state with the support of all parties. We can see him trying to project himself as an advocate of SCS and trying to paint himself as a martyr to the cause.

In the past, Chandrababu Naidu had called Sonia Gandhi a devil. He called her names including associating her with Italian mafia. Chandrababu had said that Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated the day Italy gained its independence. The Congress did not seem to take up the issue with him at that time. It was strange that the Congress party was acting as if it had been honoured by being invited to the all-party meeting.

The Left parties, which were reluctant to participate, made it clear that they would not sail along with Chandrababu Naidu. However, Chalasani Srinivas came in for sharp criticism for his prominent role in the all-party meeting convened by Chandrababu Naidu. Chandrababu’s act of cosying up to parties which he had criticised right up to yesterday, is typical of his politics. He tried to put up a brave show along with NGO associations and other groups. Curiously enough, he is now trying to paint himself as a champion of SCS to AP after having suppressed the movement for four years with an iron hand. Not once in this time, did he hold a meeting for SCS to AP, although Chandrababu was counselled on several occasions that a combined effort could pay off. Neither did the AP CM respond in such a way over controversies related to Polavaram. Nor did he see the need to convene an all-party meeting.

Perhaps, Chandrababu feels that everyone should rush to his rescue when he is in a crisis, because we find him attacking the parties whose support he now seeks, most of the time. It becomes evident that Chandrababu Naidu is now trying to hijack the movement for SCS to AP. He is pre-occupied with developing a strategy to tap into the powerful sentiment for SCS all over the state. The all-party meeting was a part of that plan. Time alone will tell whether Chandrababu will succeed in doing so and in the bargain, in cheating the masses again.

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