After West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it was the turn of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu to meet leaders from various Opposition parties. Days after quitting the NDA and moving a no-confidence motion against the Narendra modi government, Naidu sought assistance from the Opposition for the cause of Andhra Pradesh.
He has also discussed the pending no-confidence motions and a floor strategy on the matter with the Opposition. The TDP has been seeking a special category status for the “residual State” of Andhra Pradesh after the Telangana bifurcation. Naidu has also been voicing concern over alleged discrimination to the southern States in the devolution of central taxes.
Naidu, who was in Central hall of Parliament, met Congress leaders Veerappa Moily, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Rajiv Satav. He also met also NCP leader Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule.
Food Processing Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of State and leader of Apnal Dal Anupriya Patel also met Naidu. SP’s Ramgopal Yadav, National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah, Trinamool Congress leaders Sudip Bandopadhyay and Saugata Roy, CPI national secretary D Raja, TRS MP Jitender Reddy and AIADMK’s V Maitreyan also met the TDP chief.
The West Bengal Chief Minister has been talking to other parties on the possibilities of a federal front against the BJP. She had also met all Opposition parties last week. Naidu’s TDP has been a champion of ‘third front’ politics in the past but had favoured the NDA in 1998 and 2014. In 2009, the party had unsuccessfully tried to form a third front against both the BJP and the Congress.
TDP MP TG Venkatesh said the meeting was to send across a message to the country that not only making commitments, but honouring it also is very important.
Little business
Meanwhile, both the Houses got adjourned for the 19th consecutive day without taking up any business. 41 members took oath in the Upper House on Tuesday. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said he does not want the entire country to watch “ugly scenes”. “I am ready for a discussion on each and every issue,” he said before adjourning the House.
In the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement on the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act amid ruckus. AIADMK members disrupted the proceedings demanding a Cauvery Board.