Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu paid a heavy penalty in the 2019 assembly elections for entering into a confrontation with the Bharatiya Janata Party in general and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular.
Subsequently, he made every attempt to get closer to the saffron party and also get into the good books of Modi. But the BJP refused to touch him with a barge pole and made it clear several times that the doors of the party are shut permanently for the TDP.
Yet, Naidu did not give up. He had been regularly writing letters to Modi on various issues, praising his leadership and wishing him on his birthdays, but there was not much response from the Prime Minister.
Now that Modi is coming to Bhimavaram on July 4 to take part in the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Alluri Sitarama Raju and as a matter of courtesy, the Centre extended invitation to the presidents of all recognised political parties to attend the event, Naidu is trying to attract Modi’s attention.
Though the TDP chief would be sending his party leader K Atchannaidu to the event, Naidu has made an attempt to get into the sight of Modi by writing a letter on Alluri Sitarama Raju.
He said he was personally and on behalf of Telugu people thanking the Centre under Modi’s leadership for including Shri Alluri in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.
“Further, your scheduled visit to Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh on 4th July 2022 to honour Shri Alluri Sitarama Raju by unveiling his statue will be remembered,” he said.
On this occasion, Naidu brought to the notice of Modi that a decision to install the statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju was taken during the 13th Lok Sabha by the NDA-led government headed by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the request of the then Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led Government in Andhra Pradesh.
“However, the change in government at the Centre and in Andhra Pradesh led to delay in installing the statue. It is only apt and appropriate to install a statue of Shri Alluri Sitarama Raju in the Parliament of India, which will stand tall and inspire the coming generations, now,” he said.
“In honouring Shri Alluri Sitarama Raju, we are in essence honouring our freedom fighters, our tribal communities and the spirit of India,” Naidu added.
It would be interesting to see whether Modi will respond to Naidu’s request and make any announcement in this regard at the Bhimavaram meeting.
