Mamata, Akhilesh, Congress, Left condemn Naidu’s arrest

Vijayawada: The support extended to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu by some non-BJP parties following his arrest seems to have put the party leadership in a delicate situation. After West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banarjee, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav strongly condemned the arrest of Naidu and said it’s “part of Modi-style vendetta to eliminate opposition parties”. He also spoke to senior TDP leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu Yadav over phone and enquired about the developments. Earlier, WB chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata also strongly condemned Naidu’s arrest, saying there is no place for vendetta in democracy. Both leaders are part of the INDIA alliance which would be taking on the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 elections. Congress, another INDIA alliance partner, too has come out in support of Naidu, with party leaders in AP criticising chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for resorting to dictatorial practices by curbing the voice of opposition. Senior Congress leader Tulasi Reddy said they have decided to extend solidarity to Naidu despite as part of their party’s principle to protect the voice of the opposition in a democracy. Former Congress MP Harsha Kumar also tried to meet Naidu at Rajahmundry central jail to extend his support.The CPM and CPI also condemned Naidu’s arrest. “YSRCP and Jagan should realise that they would also be in opposition someday,” CPI leader K Ramakrishna, who met Lokesh in Rajahmundry and expressed his party’s support, said.Interestingly, the state BJP leadership is yet to come out in full force in Naidu’s support. Though state president Daggubati Purandeswari condemned the arrest, the party distanced itself from extending support to the state bandh called on Monday by the TDP. The BJP leadership, in fact, seems to have made a guarded retreat from the issue. The support by non-BJP parties is said to have led to serious thinking in the TDP leadership. Sources said some legislators and senior leaders want Naidu to completely snap ties with the BJP and go with Jana Sena and other opposition parties.Vijayawada: The support extended to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu by some non-BJP parties following his arrest seems to have put the party leadership in a delicate situation. After West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banarjee, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav strongly condemned the arrest of Naidu and said it’s “part of Modi-style vendetta to eliminate opposition parties”. He also spoke to senior TDP leader Yanamala Ramakrishnudu Yadav over phone and enquired about the developments. Earlier, WB chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata also strongly condemned Naidu’s arrest, saying there is no place for vendetta in democracy. Both leaders are part of the INDIA alliance which would be taking on the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 elections. Congress, another INDIA alliance partner, too has come out in support of Naidu, with party leaders in AP criticising chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for resorting to dictatorial practices by curbing the voice of opposition. Senior Congress leader Tulasi Reddy said they have decided to extend solidarity to Naidu despite as part of their party’s principle to protect the voice of the opposition in a democracy. Former Congress MP Harsha Kumar also tried to meet Naidu at Rajahmundry central jail to extend his support.The CPM and CPI also condemned Naidu’s arrest. “YSRCP and Jagan should realise that they would also be in opposition someday,” CPI leader K Ramakrishna, who met Lokesh in Rajahmundry and expressed his party’s support, said.Interestingly, the state BJP leadership is yet to come out in full force in Naidu’s support. Though state president Daggubati Purandeswari condemned the arrest, the party distanced itself from extending support to the state bandh called on Monday by the TDP. The BJP leadership, in fact, seems to have made a guarded retreat from the issue. The support by non-BJP parties is said to have led to serious thinking in the TDP leadership. Sources said some legislators and senior leaders want Naidu to completely snap ties with the BJP and go with Jana Sena and other opposition parties.