Bengaluru: Setting the pace for the formation of a front of opposition parties ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls to take on the ruling BJP, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu met JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and son H.D. Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru on Thursday.
“All institutions have been destroyed. The CBI, a premier anti-corruption agency has been finished. Now, the RBI an autonomous institution is under pressure. Media reports suggest that the RBI governor wants to quit,” Mr Naidu said.
He also attacked the NDA government over the Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate raids on opposition leaders’ offices and houses.
When his attention was drawn to the BJP’s criticism of the opposition Mahagathbandhan saying it would come a cropper, Mr Naidu referred to the Congress-JD(S) experiment in Karnataka that had swept the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly polls winning four of the five seats.
“What happened in Karnataka reflects the mood of the nation,” he said and recalled the bonhomie of 1996 when he was the convenor of the United Front and Mr Gowda was chairman of the front. “We enjoy a good rapport. I came to seek his blessings and co-operation which he agreed to extend,” the TDP chief said.
Asked whether the TD would be dubbed opportunistic as it was part of the NDA for four years before splitting away, Mr Naidu said, “We gave the BJP time but they did not implement a special package for AP or the provisions of the Special Act under which the new state was created.”
Later, Mr Deve Gowda said, “Mr Naidu is making an honest effort to bring all regional parties together. His effort is to defeat the NDA in the 2019 parliament elections. He has met all leaders including Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah. I would like to request the Congress party to co-operate with this effort. The Congress has a greater responsibility in this regard.”
Naidu’s Karnataka counterpart, H.D. Kumaraswamy said the political experiment of 1996 would repeat in 2019 with the entry of Mr Naidu, who is co-ordinating with all regional parties.
