Ever since he lost power in the 2019 assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh Telugu Desam Party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been trying every trick to gain the sympathy of the people.
The capital issue has become a major issue for Naidu to regain his lost glory and he has been making all out efforts to bounce back riding on the Amaravati plank. On Thursday, when the agitation by Amaravati farmers against the three capitals plan completed one year, Naidu went all out to gain sympathy.
His visit to Kanaka Durga temple at Vijayawada to pray the Goddess seeking Her blessings for Amaravati and his high drama at Uddandarayunipalem where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid foundation stone for Amaravati capital on October 22, 2015, were all part of his strategy.
The TDP chief was supposed to go to Rayapudi to address the farmers’ rally as per the schedule. But he suddenly chose to visit Uddandarayunipalem close to the seed access road.
He knew very well that some villagers supporting three capitals plan were holding counter agitation and if he goes there, it creates a tense atmosphere.
But Naidu was firm on going to the spot where foundation was laid for Amaravati. The police stopped his convoy of vehicles for nearly one hour but later allowed him to go on foot. So, he walked for a kilometre or two, amidst slogan shouting by TDP workers and his supporters.
At Uddandarayunipalem, Naidu knelt down and later prostrated before the heap of soil, which was brought from different places of the country for Amaravati capital, at the time of foundation stone laying.
He also knelt down before the Yagashala, where a homam was performed in the past and prayed for some time. Later, he paid obeisance to the mandapam.
And at the public meeting venue, the TDP chief challenged YSR Congress president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to hold a referendum on Amaravati as the capital and also his three capitals plan.
“Let us go to the people for 45 days. If the people support the three capitals plan and reject Amaravati, then I will quit politics forever,” Naidu said.
