Chandrababu, A Dangerous Dictator  

By Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu is committing mistake after mistake in a hurry over arranging funds for spending in the upcoming elections. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief has drawn severe criticism over the construction of an alternative airport to Visakhpatnam Airport, at Bhogapuram, 40 kilometers from Vizag. With a plan to hand over the Bhogapuram Airport construction tender over to his favoured private organization, Chandrababu Naidu did not hesitate to alter the terms and conditions of the tender, which would be used to verify the eligibility of the organization. It has to be said that to mention the requirement of project experience in real estate to be eligible for the tender is a clear case of manipulation.

Initially, Chandrababu gave rise to a controversy by proposing land acquisition for building a 15,000 acre airport. But, after severe criticism from farmers and Opposition parties over the proposal, the State government was compelled to curtail the Airport's area to 3,000 kms. Doesn't it mean that the government's idea of 15,000 kms was not necessary?

Later, the State government invited tenders for the Bhogapuram Airport construction. But, much to the dislike of Chandrababu, the State-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) won the tender. Chandrababu was learnt to have been interested in offering the tender to a private organization like the GMR, keeping in mind the political and financial advantage he could take with the private organizations. Hence, with the support of the then Union Minister of Civil Aviation and TDP leader Ashok Gajapathi Raju, the TDP supremo managed to cancel the tender.

All opposition parties have exposed the vested interest of Chandrababu behind the cancellation of tender. BJP MLC Somu Veerraju went on to complain to the Centre, about the issue. Once known for his sincerity and integrity, Ashok Gajapathi, is learnt to have succumbed to Chandrababu's pressure in this regard.

Also, the AAI is questioning Chandrababu's idea behind the cancellation of the tender, even after the body offered higher taxes, in addition to offering to pay for leasing the land. It is beyond the thought of experts, that Chandrababu was not interested in utilizing the services of AAI, which is running a majority of Airports in the country. The TDP government is following a pattern in making a controversy out of every single tender. After commenting that the Singapore government would build the Amaravati Capital city, Chandrababu has offered the contract to Indian companies. It has to be remembered that the AP CM once remarked that Indian companies were only capable of building slums.

Analysts opine that they could not be sure whether Chandrababu indulged in such a wastage of public money and corruption in his previous term as a Chief Minister, but they are sure that the same is being done on a big scale this time around. On the other side, leaders of the BJP are limited to only making comments over Chandrababu's corruption, but unable to take action. And since the TDP does not practice internal democracy, leaders within the party remain helplessly mum over his actions.