Once-bitten-twice-shy, Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been making desperate attempts to get closer to the Bharatiya Janata Party national leadership and appease Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Though a section of BJP leaders is strongly lobbying for bringing the TDP back into the fold of the BJP, the party national leadership has not evinced any interest in the yellow party.
Instead, it has been maintaining closer relationship with ruling YSR Congress party led by chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Even the state-level BJP leaders are keeping the TDP and Naidu at bay in view of the past experience, though they are not happy with the YSRCP either.
They prefer continuing the alliance with the Jana Sena Party headed by actor Pawan Kalyan.
Yet, Naidu has not stopped lobbying through some close aides to restore friendship with the BJP.
The latest decision to support NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu is obviously an attempt to win back the confidence of the BJP and Modi.
According to some reports, Union minister G Kishan Reddy is taking the initiative to restore the friendship between the TDP and the BJP.
It was because of Kishan Reddy’s initiative that the TDP leaders could have a separate meeting with Murmu at Vijayawada.
Apparently, he has convinced Union home minister Amit Shah in arranging the meeting of TDP leaders with Murmu.
It was only after Shah’s interference did the state BJP leaders came to Naidu’s meeting and had a friendly talk with him.
Sources said Naidu reportedly put forth a request before the BJP national leadership: that if the alliance with the TDP is not possible, it would be better if the saffron party at least remain neutral by the next elections.
The TDP chief is of the view that the BJP had extended all possible assistance to the YSRC in the last elections, including appointment of key officials in crucial districts, transfer of some IAS and IPS officers as per the demand of the YSRC and even in the EVM manipulations.
“Naidu fears that if the BJP extends help to the YSRC again in the next elections, it would affect the TDP chances. So, he has been requesting the BJP leadership to remain at least neutral and not help the YSRC. He wants the BJP not to create troubles or any hurdles to the TDP,” sources said.
It will be interesting to see whether the BJP leadership would oblige the request of Naidu.