Modi inspires Nagarjuna, frustrates Naidu
HYDERABAD: TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his displeasure with the BJP for driving a hard bargain over seat-sharing and even warned the saffron party it would be difficult for him to seal the deal if they refuse to get off their high pedestal.
'Seat-sharing should be pragmatic. It should be done with a good intention. If they (BJP leaders) create unnecessary problems, it would be difficult for us... We will take forward the issue only if seat-sharing is reasonable,' he asserted.
Stating that he is compromising on alliances for the sake of the country, Naidu said he would strike an alliance only if it is in his party's interests. 'If my party is weakened, I will be weakened and entire Telugus will be weakened,' Naidu remarked.
Attacking the BJP, he wondered how could it demand 60 Assembly seats in Telangana itself. 'On what basis is the party claiming that it has expanded its base since 2004?' he questioned.
Pointing out that it is not for the first time that the TDP is joining hands with the BJP, Naidu said, 'There is historical data. They should compare their strengths and weaknesses. If they claim we had given 60 seats to alliance partners during 2009 polls in Telangana, they should also recall that we had not given a single seat to anybody in Seemandhra at that time'.
He also reminded the BJP leadership that it was able to run the NDA government at the Centre because of TDP's support. With the TDP-BJP proposed alliance on the rocks, in an interesting development, actor Akkineni Nagarjuna met BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar and extended his support.
Emerging from the meeting, Nagarjuna said, 'I am inspired by Modiji, who will be the next PM. I have come here as I wanted to meet the leader who will lead the country in 2014'.
Stating that he had been reading about Modi, Nagarjuna said he had come to Gujarat to see Modi's good work. Nagarjuna's sudden visit led to speculation that he had gone to seek Lok Sabha seat for his wife Amala. But, he denied it and said he was invited by senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu.
News Posted: 25 March, 2014
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