Chandrababu’s Great Indian Comedy Show Featuring Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: The debate over Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu's visit to Delhi is taking interesting turns in political and media circles in the Telugu States. Although Chandrababu claims to have visited Delhi to save democracy and to spread his slogan "Save Country, Save Democracy," political insiders say there is a hidden agenda behind the visit. It is believed that Chandrababu's attempts to stitch the anti-BJP alliance was an effort to avoid investigation in the large-scale corruption he was involved in the last four years in AP. While analysts term Chandrababu's latest outing in Delhi as the Great Indian Comedy Show, critics question whether Chandrababu was aware of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Chandrababu's Delhi tour may be seen as an official plea to Congress President Rahul Gandhi for Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) inclusion in the UPA. In the words of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Chandrababu is a sinking ship which is losing base in AP by the day. The TDP-Congress alliance could be an indication to Chandrababu's last resort efforts to save the sinking ship of TDP, in the context of C-voter survey's predictions of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP pulling off a grand victory in the State.

According to political pundits, Chandrababu's longing for friendship with the Congress roots from his greed to cash in on the lean vote share of the Congress in AP as the surveys suggest that the TDP fell behind at least 10 to 15% in votes. It appears that Chandrababu's strategy lies in gaining politically from his Save Country, Save Democracy campaign with the support of his yellow media. Joining hands with the same old Congress party, which Chandrababu described as the culprit behind the State's bifurcation, is a testimony to the TDP chief's antics.

Sources in the BJP feel that the Congress is the biggest beneficiary from the alliance, which would certainly boost Congress's chances in Telangana. On the flip side, Congress leaders opine that Chandrababu approached Rahul Gandhi to save his face in the political arena. "Rahul Gandhi was willing to meet Chandrababu only to gain votes in Telangana. Else, he wouldn't have met the TDP chief," according to sources.

Chandrababu's Delhi Outing A Debacle

An official spokesperson of the BJP said Chandrababu was living in a bubble doctored by the yellow media. "Contrary to Chandrababu's misconception that he is a kingmaker in national politics, none of the national parties consider him a serious prospect in defining the formation of next government of the opposition. Comparatively, TMC president Mamata Banerjee and BSP president Mayavati are considered stronger leaders at the national level," he said.

Harikishan Singh Surjeeth Is The Real Kingmaker

Analysts who closely observed Chandrababu's attitude in his Delhi visit were surprised at his comments that he was and will continue to be a king maker in national politics. In reality, it was CPM senior leader Harikishan Singh Surjeeth who played the role of a king maker in the United Front by making Deve Gowda and IK Gujral the kings of the alliance.

"During the United Front's discussions, Surjeet appointed Chandrababu as the Front's convenor. Following this, the Chandrababu-friendly yellow media hailed that him as a kingmaker. But, in reality, it was Surjeet who played the crucial role," the analysts observed.

Later, during the Vajpayee government, Chandrababu received support only because the TDP government at the time had 36 MPs. In the last four years, Chandrababu lost his credibility after falling out with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and eventually pulling out of the NDA, they asserted.

Also Read: Chandrababu’s Delhi Visits To Save Skin: YSRCP