Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu has clarified that he’s not an aspirant for Prime Minister position. However, he said he would be part of core team comprising Congress and other regional parties to decide on the PM candidate after the results scheduled on May 23.
Responding to the speculation over the possibility of Chandrababu Naidu becoming Prime Minister, if poll results point to hung government at the Centre, Naidu said: “I am not an aspirant of PM position. Let’s not speculate anything as remaining three phases of general elections yet to be completed. After the results, Congress and other like-mined parties sit together and we’ll decide on who’ll be the PM candidate.”
Chandrababu Naidu has come down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and criticised his unilateral decisions that impact the spirit of democracy. Prime Minister Modi is acting above the law and restricting all the chief ministers in the country in the name of Election Code, remarked Naidu.
“Chief Ministers of cyclone-hit states have requested the Election Commission to exempt the state from the Code. Unfortunately, their request was turned down. I question here that is Prime Minister Modi exempt from the Code? Is Modi above law? Modi has reduced the role of chief ministers to beggar level,” maintained Naidu.
The AP chief minister has further stated that Modi is in high level of frustration as he seems to be realised the possible outcome on May 23. “That’s why, Modi has become so intolerant of opposition parties. As he promised there’s no change in India, but the way he dress up. Prime Minister Modi appears in different outfit for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Modi is undergoing peak level of frustration that’s why he’s often mentioning ‘Balakot’ incident,’ stated Naidu.
Naidu was heading the Panel on digital currency during his good days with Prime Minister Modi. Referring to this, Naidu said that he gave a report on digital currency to the Centre stating that digital currency cost should be less than physical currency.
“But, the Modi-led NDA government didn’t bother about my report on digital currency. I don’t see any rationality behind banning Rs1,000 currency and introducing Rs2,000 currency,” elaborated Naidu.
