The way Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu lavished praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, virtually describing as a god on the earth, shows how low the TDP chief can stoop for his political gains.
It was really surprising to see Naidu making a call to Prime Minister on Monday night and giving unsolicited suggestions on Coronavirus spread. As a matter or courtesy, Modi might have reciprocated by returning the call on Tuesday morning.
Sources said the PM spoke to Naidu for just two minutes only to say that he would seek suggestions from everyone to fight the Corona war. He is learnt to have said he would go through the suggestions Naidu had sent him a day before.
But the TDP chief sought to gain a big political mileage out of it by addressing a press conference through video conferencing system and claimed that Modi had called him and sought his advice.
What was shocking to the media was the way Naidu went head over the heels to praise Modi.
He appreciated the PM for taking a bold and statesman-like decision to extend lockdown, giving priority to saving the lives of people despite deepening economic crisis in the country.
He did not feel ashamed to say that the country would fight the virus threat under the efficient leadership of Modi.
“You are building national consensus in the right spirit. Now testing should be increased and people should be prepared for future struggle,” he said.
It was pretty clear that the TDP chief has been trying to get as much closer as possible to the BJP leadership in general and Modi in particular, though it was not even a year since he had abused Modi and run down the BJP and even tried to pull down Modi from power by joining hands with the Congress.
Analysts say it is too early for Naidu to take such a U-turn so quickly and attempt to return to the BJP fold. By praising Modi so intensely, Naidu has not only degraded his stature but also proved that he is rank political opportunist.
“There are still four years to go for the next elections and one cannot say Modi’s charisma will continue till then. Who knows an alternative leadership might emerge in the country to dethrone Modi and in such a case, Naidu would only be fighting the losing battle,” an analyst said.
