Days after Jagan quip, Naidu shares dais with Modi, talks about tie-up
NEW DELHI: N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday shared the stage with BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi at a youth gathering organized by a fledgling group, Citizens for Accountable Governance ( CAG), amplifying the indications of the TDP chief cozying up to BJP.
The two leaders had a 30-minute meeting without aides on the sidelines of CAG's Manthan after Naidu had given more than a peep into his political preference in a speech where he attacked Congress for the dip in economic growth and seemed almost nostalgic for what was achieved under the NDA.
Speaking to an audience comprising students, young professionals and techies,
Naidu seemed nostalgic about the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government. "The UPA government inherited good governance from the NDA. But the UPA has come to be known for corruption, inefficiency and policy paralysis," said Naidu while addressing CAG's Manthan.
Naidu highlighted the achievements of the NDA government and mentioned the progress in building highways, mobile connectivity and technology. Drawing a parallel between him and Modi, Naidu said, "When I was in power, people talked about Hyderabad. After 2004, they now talk about Gujarat."Modi shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Naidu, but did not mention TDP or its chief in either of his two speeches at the beginning and end of the programme. Later, however, they met for what both sources termed as the first conversation on a possible tie-up.
In his address, Naidu was harsh on the Congress and slammed the reversal of UPA's stand on ordinance to shield convicted lawmakers at Rahul Gandhi's instance as a drama.
Taking a dig at the PM and Rahul's public criticism of his government's ordinance, he said, "He criticizes the PM when he is away but it is well known that Manmohan Singh is a puppet in the hands of Sonia Gandhi. Rahul was well aware of the ordinance."
Naidu's focus on the declining growth rate under UPA can help him deal with any criticism for abandoning his anti-BJP stand, with the TDP chief emphasizing that the Congress's defeat was an imperative for a country's betterment. "Congress should be defeated in the 2014 election or we will have to suffer more. The 2014 (election) is a very good time to defeat the Congress," he added.
Days after Jagan quip, Naidu shares dais with Modi, talks about tie-up - The Times of India