TDP walks out of NDA, Chandrababu Naidu says PM Modi has no time for allies seeking rights

TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu told the state assembly that “BJP allies are fighting for their rights in Parliament” but the Prime Minister did not have time to address their concerns.

Carrying out its threat “in the interest of the people of Andhra Pradesh”, the TDP, which has 16 MPs in Lok Sabha, walked out of the ruling NDA Friday.

TDP leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who directed his party to bring in its own no-confidence motion against the Modi government, told the state assembly that “BJP allies are fighting for their rights in Parliament” but the Prime Minister did not have time to address their concerns.

The government, however, exuded confidence about its stability. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said: “The whole country has full confidence in the Prime Minister as does the House. The government has the numbers… We are ready to take up everything.”

Earlier, ending his party’s four-year alliance with the BJP over denial of special category status to Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu announced in Amaravati that he had decided to leave the NDA. Simultaneously, Thota Narasimhan, floor leader of the TDP in Lok Sabha, gave notice to move a no-confidence motion against the BJP government.

When Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that the motion could not be taken up as long as there was no order in the House, Narasimhan gave another notice, asking her to “include the motion in the revised List of Business for March 19”. TDP’s rival in Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress Party, also gave notice to express no-confidence in the Council of Ministers.

In Amaravati, Naidu told the assembly: “I took the decision in the interest of the people of Andhra Pradesh and not for any selfish, personal reason. Everyone knows that for four years we tried hard and made all efforts to secure whatever was promised to the state as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. I went to New Delhi 29 times but there was no response. The last Budget was a big disappointment as there was no mention of our state. When the BJP’s allies are fighting for their rights in Parliament, can’t the Prime Minister give some time to address them? I waited until Thursday before deciding to leave the NDA.’’

On March 8, the TDP’s two ministers at the Centre, P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y S Chowdary, resigned in protest after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said there was no question of granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

On Thursday, Naidu had indicated that the TDP would back the no-confidence notice moved by the YSRCP. But on Friday, TDP leaders said the party would move a separate notice as it smelt a nexus between the YSRCP and BJP. “We go according to principles. Our leader felt being part of NDA and moving a no-confidence motion would not be ethical. So we withdrew from the NDA, and I have issued a letter on a no-confidence motion to the Speaker at 9.30 am,” Narasimham told reporters in New Delhi.

His party colleague Ramesh claimed that YSRCP MP Vijaysai Reddy was seen trying to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this, he said, suggested a nexus between the two parties. “We have no confidence in their no-confidence motion, so we have decided to go on our own,” he said.

The Opposition parties jumped in to to embarrass the government. While the Congress and Left leaders were the first parties to declare support, TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who spoke to Naidu over phone, tweeted: “I welcome the TDP’s decision to leave the NDA. The current situation warrants such action to save the country from disaster… I appeal to all political parties in the Opposition to work closely together against atrocities, economic calamity and political instability.”

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the party would also support the motion but asked the two Andhra parties not to play politics over the matter. Mohammad Salim of the CPM said: “When the Andhra parties bring a no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, we will support it.” Leaders of RJD, SP and AIMIM too said they would back the no-confidence motion when it is moved. These parties together account for 129 seats. Smaller parties friendly to the Congress are also expected to join the bandwagon.

The BJP, which currently has 274 MPs — two more than the magic number — and its allies including SAD and JD-U will be able to defeat the motion. The TRS, which has 11 members, also announced it would not back the no-trust motion. BJP leaders, however, conceded that a no-trust motion and the debate over it could damage the party’s image.

For the record, the BJP said the TDP’s exit would do good for the party in Andhra Pradesh. “Andhra will be the next Tripura for the BJP. TDP’s exit is a loss for the TDP, not the BJP. The slim victory of (1.7%) for the TDP-BJP combine in 2014 would have resulted in a third consecutive defeat for the TDP,” BJP spokesperson GVL Rao said.

“TDP’s decision to quit was inevitable after its mischievous propaganda against Centre. People of AP have now realised that the TDP is resorting to lies to cover up its inept & inert governance. Far from being a threat, TDP’s exit is a timely opportunity for the BJP to grow in AP,” he tweeted.

Source: Indian Express