If KCR tries to arrest me, it will be the last day of his government, says Chandrababu Naidu
New Delhi: The recent cash-for-vote scam has bittered relations between chief ministers of the two states – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu threatened that it would be the end of K Chandrasekhar Rao's regime if he tried to arrest him.
"If he does like that (tries to arrest me) then it will be the last day for his government," Naidu told NDTV in an interview in Delhi.
TRS earlier accused Naidu of playing a role in the alleged bribery attempt by TDP’s Revanth Reddy in a cash-for-vote scam.
Read: MLC elections: Anti Corruption Bureau nabs Telugu Desam MLA Revanth Reddy for bribery
TV channels aired an alleged conversation between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson in which the CM assured that “all commitments would be fulfilled”.
About the allegation, Naidu said, “Either he has taped my conversation, or his channel has, or it is fabricated. Why should I answer for it?”
Naidu is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.
According to Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu, Naidu is expected to asked the Prime Minister to order a probe into the alleged phone-tapping operation undertaken by the Telangana Government and call for a proper implementation of Section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act relating to the role of the governor in maintaining law and order in common capital Hyderabad.
Read: Cash for vote scam: Telugu Desam MLA Revanth Reddy took name of his ‘boss’ frequently
Naidu, he said, will also meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and if necessary, call on Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday.
The state’s chief secretary and director general of police will also visit Delhi to submit letters to the central government, while the state government will make a representation on both issues to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan.
Ramakrishnudu said that the Andhra Pradesh State Cabinet has taken a serious view of the phone tapping incidents undertaken by the Telangana Government.
Tuesday’s State Cabinet meeting lasted for about five hours and related to the release of an audio tape of Naidu’ alleged telephonic conversation with Telangana’s nominated legislator Elvis Stephenson in the cash-for-vote scam.
The cash-for-vote scam came to light on May 31 when Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Telangana arrested TDP’s deputy leader in the Telangana assembly A Revanth Reddy while offering Rs.50 lakh to Stephenson to make him vote for the TDP-BJP candidate in Telangana legislative council elections.
The ACB also arrested Revanth Reddy’s two aides in a trap laid on a complaint by Stephenson.
