Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu in recent times has been claiming that he is the `senior most politician’ of the country, at present. He says no other leader in the country is having experience similar to him, both in office and in opposition.

Very recently, he said at a TDP workers meeting, he was Chief Minister of the united AP for nine years and since two and half years in the bifurcated state. Likewise, he also says he was leader of opposition for ten years in the state. He claimed that there is no other politician having so much experience compared to him. Thus, he is trying to project himself as the `tallest leader’ of the country.

It is true that he had played crucial role in national politics, during United Front governments headed by H D Deva Gowda and I K Gujral, as its convenor and also during Vijapayee government, extending out-side support. However, after bifurcation of AP, being Chief Minister of a comparatively smaller state of having only 25 MPs, of which TDP is having only 15 law makers, he is being forced to confine to the state politics only.

Even otherwise, his party support is not crucial for the existence of Narendra Modi government at the centre. TDP sources says this makes him worry with `crisis of identity’. Several TDP leaders are also disputing his claims of `tallest leader’ of the country.

It may be stated that Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal will emerge as `senior most’ political leader in the country with longest stint as Chief Minister and also as opposition leader, when compared to any other leader in the country. He has been playing active part in politics for about half century.

Though NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, is presently not in power, he is also considered to be senior most politician in the country. His experience as Chief Minster and Union Minister is not comparable with any other leader.