Chandrababu Naidu on alliance with BJP: 'Have to protect people, save future'

Chandrababu Naidu on alliance with BJP: ‘Have to protect people, save future’

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu said that his decision to return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was to protect the future of the state and its people.

In an exclusive interview with India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai, Naidu affirmed that the difference with the BJP was only on the topic of special status to the state, and on other fronts like development and economic reforms, he and PM Modi are on the same page.

“[Chief Minister] Jagan Mohan Reddy has destroyed the development and future of Andhra Pradesh, and it is my responsibility to protect it. …The state is in a deep trap. No government has done this before. He has sold all the government properties. Now I have to protect the people and save their future,” Naidu said.

He said he joined hands with BJP, along with Pawan Kalyan’s JanaSena to “save Andhra Pradesh”.

In March 2018, Naidu walked out of the NDA over the central government’s unwillingness to give Special Status to Andhra Pradesh. Naidu had told the state assembly that PM Modi was “responsible for injustice to Andhra Pradesh”.

In March this year, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, he returned to the NDA fold.

“Apart from the issue of special status, we do not have any differences. I got all other things done. That sentiment is for Andhra Pradesh,” Naidu said to India Today TV.

The former Andhra Chief Minister claimed that India is “moving forward” domestically and internationally under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“There is inherent strength in India. He is able to provide proper leadership to India and Indians all over the world. While there is a leadership crisis all over the world, PM Modi is leading strong,” he noted.

Asked specifically about his take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the two are on “the same page”.

“Hundred per cent we are on the same page in economic reforms, development, wealth creation, promotion of India and Indians. There is no difference at all,” he said.

He also accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of restoring the state’s development and said that while the Telugu community in other places, including Telangana and all over the world, is developing, people in Andhra Pradesh are not seeing development.

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