Hyderabad: The TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu was very eager to play a pivotal role both in Andhra Pradesh and at the National level and repeatedly boasted that he is sure to retain his Chief Minister position and also he would have a major say in the selection of next Prime Minister at the centre. On completion of the polling in the first phase itself in the State, Chandrababu started making trips to Delhi and other capitals, with a view to bring together all the opposition leaders, firstly to defeat the ruling BJP and then replace Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a leader of his choice.
As the election results unfolded on Thursday, it was, however, a double whammy for Chandrababu Naidu as his party itself was badly mauled in the State on one hand, and on the other, the BJP secured a clear majorit6y to form the Government at the Centre, leaving no scope at all for the opposition parties to play any role in the formation of Government at the national level.
One observer remarked that it was a ‘double eclipse for Chandra (Moon)’ and he must be in a stupor now, with practically no role to play either in the State or at the Centre.
As a matter of fact, on election as Chief Minister of A P in 2014, Chandrababu was very close to BJP and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for over four years. As a realized that the opposition YSRCP is likely to get people’s support for Jagan’s sustained fight for Special Category Status to the State, as promised in the Parliament at the time of State bifurcation, he suddenly took a U-turn, started demanding SCS to the State, turned against the Prime Minister and the Centre, and started using harsh and even abusive language against Modi. With this, the opposition parties started treating Chandrababu Naidu as an enemy of BJP and his support also can be taken for formation of non-BJP front and Government at the Centre, by defeating the BJP. Unfortunately for him, the TDP in the State and the opposition at the Centre have lost the election that too in a most humiliating manner. Thus Chandrababu Naidu got double whammy. (NSS)