T-Andhra Guv’s move kicks up political storm

The Governor of the two Telugu States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, ESL Narasimhan, abruptly cut short his visit to the national Capital and returned to Hyderabad on Wednesday sparking off a major political storm in both the States.

What started with the speculation that the Governor has been trying to persuade both the ruling parties — the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the Telugu Desam Party in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh — to soften their stands towards the BJP Government at the Centre, has now turned into a real slugfest.

Before he left for Delhi on Tuesday with plans to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Narasimhan had held detailed discussions with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Ministers K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is planning to bring regional parties together and form a Federal Front.  The change in Governor’s programme has left many surprised.

On Sunday, the Governor made a stopover in Vijayawada while travelling from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad to meet Naidu. It is believed that in the two-hour long meeting, the Governor urged Naidu against taking a confrontationist approach towards the Centre and asked him not to oppose the BJP in the Assembly polls in Karnataka, which has a sizeable Telugu population.

The abuse actor Balakrishna heaped on the Prime Minister also figured in the discussion and the Governor expressed unhappiness over the development, sources said.

Sources said Naidu ruled out patch up with the BJP and said his fight is for the rights and interests of Andhra and its people. Also, he made it clear to the Governor that nothing less than Special Category Status was acceptable to him.

Equally significant was the fact that around the same time Intelligence Bureau Chief Rajiv Jain met Naidu.

TRS’ support to Janata Dal Secular in Karnataka also reportedly figured in the talks.

The matter went beyond the realm of speculation after Naidu lashed out at the Governor.

Addressing a public meeting in East Godavari district, Naidu alleged that the Governor is trying to unite the Opposition against the Telugu Desam and said it is not correct for the Governor to behave in a partisan manner.

Naidu recalled that the Telugu Desam right from inception was against the existence of the post of Governor as they play the role of the agent of the Centre misusing the power.

Naidu alleged that the NDA Government at the Centre is conspiring to target him when he is fighting for the people. “Beware of the Centre’s plot and protect if the Centre targets me directly or indirectly”, he told the public meeting.

Meanwhile, senior State Congress leader V Hanumanhtha Rao also targeted the Governor. Addressing a Press conference, he alleged that the Governor is playing the role of a middle man by trying to persuade Naidu to support BJP in Karnataka.