Chennai: Asserting that he was not a Prime Minister aspirant or the face of the anti-BJP front that he was trying to forge, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the need of the hour was to defeat the ‘anti-democracy’ BJP in the next elections while the question of who would lead the alliance could be taken up later.
After a 50-minute meeting with DMK president M K Stalin, as part of his anti-BJP coalition efforts, Naidu told reporters he had come to request Stalin to join him “to save this nation since democracy and the nation are in danger and all of us have to work together against the BJP”. Recalling his association with DMK since the National Front government days of the late 1980s, he said his idea was to facilitate an anti BJP platform.
Asked by reporters if he was the face of the alliance, Naidu said, “No, I am not the face of this alliance. You have to understand that. I am very clear I am not an aspirant; I am only a facilitator... I will bring everybody together. We will decide and take things forward.”
On who would lead the alliance, Naidu said there were so many leaders. “Even Stalinji is better than Narendra Modiji...there are strong leaders...we will work that out and decide.”
While Rahul Gandhi led Congress has a pan Indian presence, Naidu described regional leaders, including himself, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Stalin and Deve Gowda as strong leaders in their respective states, who are coming together against the BJP.
Stalin responded saying he pledged the DMK’S support to Naidu’s effort to rally all parties to dislodge the BJP government at the Centre, which he accused had been “intimidating” even autonomous institutions like the RBI. He also reminded that he has battling for long for the unity of the state leaders and the opposition parties to halt the Centre “snatching away the states’ rights”.
The DMK chief said he has assured Naidu he would participate in the proposed consultative meeting of (opposition) leaders at Delhi or any other suitable place to take forward the initiative. “Things like the Common Minimum Programme will be devised for sure,” he said answering a question.
“National interest is of utmost importance when compared to individual or political interest”, said Naidu, downplaying the differences between the various leaders. “We have to join together... I am in touch with Mamata Banjerjee. I am going to meet her again. We have to work together to save this nation.”
Despite past differences with the Congress, he had joined hands with that party considering the national interest, Naidu said, adding that there could be parties only if there was democracy. “That’s the situation today”.
“We will provide Krishna water to Chennai and in future we will work to bring Godavari water to Chennai”, Naidu said smiling.
Asking journalists if people had got any benefit from the NDA government, the TDP chief said it was a pity that people were not even able to withdraw their own money from ATMs post-demonetisation. The economy was in the doldrums, he said pointing to issues like the non-performing assets (NPAs).
Levelling a slew of accusations against the BJP Government, Naidu said there was intolerance, farmers’ distress and unemployment. The Centre was interfering in the affairs of a regulatory body like RBI, which was never done in the past. Also the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax departments were being used only to malign and harass the opposition leaders.
Stalin lauded Naidu for his good effort to defeat the “anti-people,” BJP at the elections. “Be it court, CBI or RBI, all autonomous institutions are being initimidated by the Centre... to stop it the BJP government should be dislodged,” Stalin said.
Naidu’s meeting with Stalin came a day after he called on his Karnataka counterpart H D Kumaraswamy and JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda.
Earlier, Naidu was accorded a warm welcome by Stalin at his Alwarpet residence.
