Karnataka Assembly results big blow to Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu

Hyderabad: The Karnataka Assembly elections results have dealt a big blow to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who had asked Telugu voters to defeat the BJP.

Mr Naidu has broken off with the BJP-led NDA over the denial of special status to Andhra Pradesh.

Some BJP leaders said that due to Mr Naidu’s call, the party could not reach the magic figure 112 and fell short by eight seats. BJP candidates were defeated in some constituencies where Telugus were majority voters.

For this, the BJP leadership is said to be angry with Mr Naidu and wants to teach him a lesson in the Assembly elections in AP. The party had already planned to launch ‘Operattion Andhra’ in AP after the Karnataka elections.

TD leaders are also anticipating some trouble from the Central government.

After breaking ties with the BJP and the NDA, Mr Naidu has been criticising Prime Minister Narendra Mo-di every day. BJP leaders feel that Mr Naidu is trying to damage the image of Mr Modi.

The TD leadership had thought that the image of Mr Modi had weakened among the public. The BJP against expectations emerged as the single largest party by winning 104 Assembly seats in Karnataka. But it could not cross the magic figure, and the BJP is blaming the TD for the loss of Telugu votes.

AP finance minister Yanamala Ramakrish-nudu said more than 60 per cent people in Telangana had opposed the BJP in Karnataka even though it had won more seats. He said that the Telugu Desam did not campaign in the Karnataka elections.