BJP, As Inconsistent As Chandrababu
Kommineni Srinivasa Rao
It is surprising to note that the Bharatiya Janata Party too has been shifting stance as per the situation. The national party's double standards were clearly evident in the way the BJP speaks differently at the state and centre. After the alliance broke up between TDP and BJP in Andhra Pradesh, we have seen a section of BJP leaders attacking the TDP government and state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu fiercely . The BJP leaders not only consistently pointed out that the state government was highly corrupt, but substantiated this with examples to prove their point.
Somu Veerraju has accused the TDP of misuse of central government funds in Chettu-Neeru programme to the extent of Rs 13,000 crores of funds. Similarly, AP BJP president Kanna Lakshminarayana and other leaders too have a lot to say against Chandrababu pointing to his rampant corruption. At the national level, BJP's spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao had mentioned that BJP would put TDP and Chandrababu in place during the Lok Sabha session for their high-level corruption. But during the no-trust debate Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spilled the beans saying that Chandrababu is and will continue to be their friend forever.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a political speech and did not question the AP government on how it was spending the Central funds. Was there any corruption involved? He did not bother to take up such things in his speech. Modi said that TDP had fallen in YSRCP trap. He mentioned that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar was more professional in his approach whereas Chandrababu was working for personal gains. Modi went on to mention such things is his speech, but conveniently let go of the main issue of corruption.
While this was BJP's approach to TDP and AP CM at the national level, why were the state party leaders making such scathing attacks on Chandrababu? The state BJP was saying the Polavaram and Pattiseema were corrupt-ridden projects. So all these imply that whatever corruption happens in AP, does not affect Modi.
Let us forgive PM and Home Minister because they are in very senior positions. What had happened to BJP MP Kambhampati Haribabu? Why couldn't he raise the corruption issue of AP? Though his speech was very interesting, he never mentioned the key issue of corruption, which only leaves many doubts about the party's behaviour.
Even from Chandrababu's end we find the same happening. We have seen him being extremely deferential towards Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari during his recent visit to Polavaram. Similarly, he never spoke a word against the PM at Niti Ayog meeting held in New Delhi. Moreover while meeting the PM, Chandrababu was expressing his humility. To prove his friendship, the AP CM has given nominated posts to the family members of BJP leaders.
But in Lok Sabha, some TDP MPs were seen to be criticising BJP. But Chandrababu's attitude proved that he was trying to do a balancing act between BJP and Congress and has kept his options open. To prove this point the AP CM never uttered even a single word against Congress.
All these lead us to the point that BJP in state was directly attacking Chandrababu, while at the national level it was protecting him. Similarly, TDP was criticising BJP but at important times they kept silent to expose their secret pacts. Chandrababu is such that he can have tie-ups with BJP and Congress, but will pass on the blame to YSRCP and Jana Sena saying that they have alliances. Only a few months are left to prove if his lies will be accepted by people time and again.
