It appears Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has discarded his new-found political ally Congress president Rahul Gandhi as the prospective prime ministerial candidate.
Instead, he is promoting Trinamul Congress president and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee as the PM candidate in the post-Lok Sabha elections scenario.
Apparently, Naidu has felt Mamata has more acceptability as the leader than Rahul Gandhi to head the country.
It was evident from Naidu’s latest bonhomie with Mamata.
On Tuesday, Naidu went all the way to Kolkata to participate in Save Democracy Dharna taken up by the Trinamul Congress chief and make her withdraw her deeksha which she had taken up two days ago in protest against the CBI raids in West Bengal in connection with Sharada chit fund scam.
On this occasion, Naidu lavished praise on Mamata, stating that she was like the main pillar of the grand alliance of the anti-BJP parties.
Extending his solidarity with her, he said the TMC will bag all the 42 parliamentary constituencies in the state.
He exuded confidence that Mamata’s fight with the Centre would turn around the national politics.
Even at the January 19 rally organized by Mamata, Naidu heaped praises on her and described as the leader of the nation.
May be, he is trying to pre-empt Mamata from joining hands with Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao to float the third front.
