Chandrababu Naidu meets Kejriwal, Mayawati, Yashwant Sinha; Oppn on the move

Chandrababu Naidu is also expected to meet leaders from Left parties and the others representing the non-NDA opposition parties in the national capital.

In a packed visit to Delhi, Andhra Pradesh chief minister and president of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) N Chandrababu Naidu Saturday met Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav amid efforts to build a grand alliance to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu with BSP chief Mayawati in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo)

Later in the evening, Naidu also met former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, and called on CPI leaders D Raja and S Sudhakar Reddy at the Andhra Bhawan here.

The nearly hour-long meeting with Mayawati comes close on the heels of her accusing the Congress of trying to “finish her party” and not making efforts to take on the BJP.

Addressing a press conference later, Naidu attacked the Modi government saying people were feeling betrayed. “CBI inquiry is going on, it’s under trial. PM (Narendra Modi) had said that all culprits in political corruption cases will be punished within one year time. On the contrary, some people are escaping. You are supporting tainted parties and victimising those who oppose you.”

The TDP was part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance until March this year, when it pulled out of the coalition at the Centre over the government’s refusal to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu referred to the coalition governments including the National Front and the United Front governments and said governments have not been formed without a national party. “You have to give confidence. We have to move forward,” he said.