The TDP is keen to revive its old friendship with the BJP, which it considers unreliable.
There are no permanent friends and permanent enemies in politics. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu is clearly on a mission to revive his old friendship with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre. Hoping to bring back the ailing TDP’s pride and bring it back home from the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Mr Naidu is making every effort to join hands with an old friend who has been ignored by his party. The cost of repeated failures over the years.
looking for an ally
The TDP’s growing desperation for a stronger ally is quite evident in Mr. Naidu’s words and actions. Recently, in an interview to this newspaper, when asked whether he was ready to seek a return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Mr. Naidu said: “We should find out, otherwise the other Will exploit us.” This is a sign that he is concerned about the BJP-YSRCP friendship. The BJP, in fact, wanted the YSRCP in the Union Cabinet, but the regional party has always been against it, instead, satisfied with giving issue-based support to the BJP. Two weeks ago, after TDP offices were attacked by miscreants, Mr Naidu alleged that party men were being targeted by a YSRCP-backed mob and asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure adequate security in the party’s offices. for the deployment of central forces.
TDP’s alliance with BJP was successful in 2014. The TDP had benefited from the anti-Congress sentiment following the ‘Modi wave’ as well as the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The alliance was strongly supported by popular actor Pawan Kalyan. But trouble began between the partners in 2018 over the issue of central funding to the state. Mr Naidu was also upset that the Center was not granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh and eventually broke away from the NDA. The BJP had then argued that it was always ready to give special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Mr Kalyan launched a scathing attack against the state government, which TDP ministers alleged was being done at the behest of the BJP.
patch up
Following this result, Mr. Naidu began looking for alliances with the Congress and other parties, but these were unsuccessful. And hence, Mr. Naidu was forced to fight a lone battle in the 2019 elections and suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the YSRCP. Following the debacle, Mr. Naidu has expressed regret – in both public and private meetings with party members – for breaking ties with the NDA. During the party’s post-poll meeting, Mr. Naidu said he had nothing against the BJP and that his decisions were solely aimed at protecting the interests of the state.
Over the years, Mr Naidu’s soft stance can be seen in his admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For example, in April 2020, Mr Naidu lauded Mr Modi for taking a “courageous and politician-like decision” to extend the COVID-19 lockdown. But it will not be easy to compromise with BJP. It may be difficult for the BJP to ignore the TDP’s two betrayals – first after the 2004 elections when Mr Naidu blamed the BJP and left after losing to YS Rajasekhara Reddy of the Congress; And second in 2018, when TDP broke ties with NDA. In 2019, Mr Shah had firmly stated that the NDA’s doors to the TDP would be closed permanently. The party reiterated this stand last month. Still, anything is possible, says a senior state BJP leader on condition of anonymity. Eventually, the Congress, an enemy, suddenly became a friend to the TDP in 2018. For TDP, whose prospects look bleak in the short term, finding an ally is crucial.
appaji.r@thehindu.co.in
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