Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, on Sunday, held a video conference and criticised N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Modi, during the video call, addressed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers of Andhra Pradesh and said, “Telugu pride can only be restored when you (Naidu) put the interests of AP above your political interests and lust for power.” He further said, “N. Chandrababu Naidu is very obsessed with the rise of his son but he does not understand that his corruption and poor policies could be the sunset of the state… He seems to have forgotten about Andhra’s other sons and daughters.”
He went on with his criticism about Chandrababu Naidu and said, one should not think of being a Prime Minister if he fails to fulfil his responsibility as the Chief Minister. Speaking about the pride of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Modi said, “The pride of Telugu people can be restored only when one would speak for the Dalits, tribals and backward class.”
Mr. Modi took a dig at the Congress party and Telugu Desam Party with regard to their alliance and said, “Former Andhra chief minister NTR had led the ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’ movement… Today, his son-in-law has bowed down before the Congress to keep his power intact.”
Mr. Modi praised the leadership of N.T. Rama Rao (N.T.R.,) the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and said, N.T.R. was a true leader, who dreamt of Swarna Andhra Pradesh (Gold Andhra Pradesh.) Moving further with his accusations, Mr. Modi said, Mr. Naidu is playing with the State’s development for his son’s bright future.
Recently, Chandrababu Naidu warned the BJP workers to not to mess with him and criticised Narendra Modi at an event in Andhra Pradesh.
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections will be conducted for a total of 200 seats, 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175 Assembly seats. The major parties contesting the elections are the TDP, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Jana Sena Party (JSP.)