Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu to meet Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders

In a bid to unite all non-BJP parties, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will meet Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders including Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in New Delhi today.

According to the sources, Naidu is likely to meet Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders including Sharad Pawar and National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah, whom he met earlier this month. He is also expected to meet senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily, who recently invited Naidu’s TDP to join the UPA.

The sources further stated that the leaders will take forward the talks of an alliance with Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party for the coming assembly elections in Telangana, which will be held in December. However, the preliminary discussions between the Congress and Naidu’s party have been conducted by state leaders and the two sides are trying to evolve a seat-sharing formula.

It is to be noted that this will be the Congress’ second key tie-up in the south. In May, the party had tied up with former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal Secular to keep the BJP out of power in Karnataka.

Earlier, on October 27, Naidu had met with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Dalit leader Mayawati and veteran leader Sharad Yadav.

Notably, Naidu’s TDP was earlier in coalition with BJP in centre and Andhra Pradesh. Naidu’s list of grouse against the Centre has grown since he left the NDA soon after the union budget, disappointed with the meagre provisions made for his state.

Over the last months, he has accused the Centre of reneging on the promise to financially support the Andhra Pradesh’s new capital Amaravati, refusing the requisite financial assistance during cyclone Titli and conducting tax raids at his home as part of a “political vendetta”.

Also Read: N Chandrababu Naidu: BJP will pay heavy price for targeting Andhra Pradesh