Hyderabad: For the first time, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and AICC president Rahul Gandhi met at Bengaluru and shook hands amid smiles at the swearing in ceremony of JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy as Karnataka Chief Minister.
This apart, another story lay in the way the leaders interacted with each other and perhaps told the story of the putative third front. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav stood together, evidently speaking in Hindi.
When Mr Naidu walked over, they made space for him but Mr Naidu appeared distinctly uncomfortable. They appeared too young to understand the significance of Mr Naidu’s contribution to Opposition about two decades ago and did not try to engage with him.
Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar stood with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and UP former chief minister Mayawati. That would have seemed better company, but Mr Naidu did not head there.
At around this time, Mr Kumaraswamy called Mr Naidu over when Mr Rahul Gandhi was standing with him. Naidu walked over and shook hands with the Congress president and patted him on the back. At another point, Mr Gandhi walked towards Mr Naidu and waved to the audience.
Mr Rahul Gandhi did not appear to fit into any group, and CPM leader Sitaram Yechury literally held his and escorted him around.
Former Prime Minister and JD(S) president H.D. Deve Gowda showed special affection for Mr Naidu, embracing him on the dias. Way back in 1996, Mr Naidu had played a key role in Mr Gowda becoming Prime Minister.
Mr Kumaraswamy, the star of the show, appeared hassled, while Congress leaders leaders including Mr D.K. Shiva Kumar, who lost out in the race for the Deputy CM’s post, appeared happy.
After completion of swearing in ceremony all the national leaders waved to the audience. The show of unity, however, failed to cover the gaps seen during the ceremony earlier.
