Hyderabad: After a long time, TD president and AP Chief Minister N. Chandra-babu Naidu met several national and regional leaders at Bengaluru, and positioned himself as a strong fighter of the BJP.
Before the oath-taking ceremony of JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy as Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr Naidu was interacting with Chief Ministers and national level leaders.
Mr Naidu held separate meetings with Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D. Raja and others. He also held discussions with former prime minister and JD(S) chief H.D. Deve Gowda and Mr Kumaraswamy.
Several leaders including Ms Banerjee brought pressure on Mr Naidu to form a new front to fight the BJP.
Speaking to the media after the discussions, Mr Naidu said: “It is a good occasion, and it is clear that the leaders of the regional parties have come together.” Asked about the formation of a front against the BJP, Mr Naidu said, “We are present here to support Mr Kumaraswamy and his government.”
Ms Banerjee, asked about BJP president Amit Shah dismissing the coming together of regional parties, said. “Whoever clashes against us will get crushed.” Ms Mayawati also told Mr Naidu about the necessity of the formation of a new front.
Mr Naidu reportedly told the leaders that the Telugu Desam was behind the defeat of the BJP in Karnataka. Before the elections, Mr Naidu had given a call to Telugus living in Karnataka to defeat the BJP which had done injustice to AP.
Mr Naidu utilised the opportunity to get the support of national leaders to fight the Centre for special status for AP. Sources said Mr Naidu also discussed about the impact of Goods and Service Tax (GST), demonetisation and the 15th Finance Commission recommendations. Mr Naidu, Ms Banerjee, Mr Kejriwal, Mr Yechury, Mr Raja and others discussed about national politics and 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the formation of an anti-BJP alliance.
Earlier, Telugus in Karnataka welcomed Mr Naidu at the Bengaluru airport with slogans of “Chandrababu zindabad”. Mr Naidu thanked them for voting against the BJP in Karnataka.
