In just two days after CM K Chandrasekhara Rao began efforts for his Federal Front, Odisha CM Navin Patnaik took a U-turn and announced his support for efforts to defeat the BJP government at the Centre. Navin sent a letter through his party MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik to AP CM Chandrababu Naidu to this effect.

The sudden development dealt a blow to KCR game plan and created ripples in national politics. Odisha MP met with Naidu in Amaravati and handed over the letter from Navin personally to AP CM. Navin made it clear that his Biju Janata Dal party is also in favour of a non-BJP government in the 2019 elections. Interestingly, Navin is the first CM and regional leader of a state that KCR met in his bid to gather support for his Federal Front.

With this, CBN gained upper hand once again and his efforts to bring together anti-BJP parties at the national level received a much-needed boost. Though KCR’s front appeared gathering some strength initially, the latest response from Odisha CM nipped it in the bud. This would prove to be undoubtedly a big hurdle for KCR to further go ahead with his efforts to win over leaders of regional parties in different states.

Analysts say KCR made a big mistake by meeting with PM Modi in Delhi after meeting with Navin and Mamata. This had sent a wrong signal and regional leaders are looking at his front with suspicion.

G.Ravikiran