Nara Chandrababu Naidu, 62, leader of the Telugu Desam party, former chief minister, and one of the senior-most politicians in the state, admits that he finds state politics today confusing, conflicting and difficult to understand.

He was hoping for a split in the Congress after Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy floated a new political outfit, but that did not happen. Then, there is the Telangana issue whi-ch continues to haunt his party in that region.

In this exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle on Sunday, Mr Naidu holds the Congress entirely responsible for the present state of affairs, predicts the downfall of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, for whom he reserves his harshest criticism, and claims he is not a man in a hurry and will wait for the Congress government to fall on its own.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q How do you view politics in the run-up to the bypolls, keeping in mind the fact that the Congress and your Telugu Desam, the main Opposition, could not post a single victory in the bypolls for 23 Assembly segments held previously?

A. I am the senior-most active politician in the state, but still I am unable to understand the political happenings in the state. It is confusing and conflicting. For all this I blame only the Congress both at the Centre and in the state for making the situation more complex. Whether it’s Telangana or Jagan Mohan Reddy, both (problems) are created by the Congress and now they are unable to solve it. Due to this, the state and people are put to untold suffering. I’m not bothered if the Congress suffers due to its mistakes, but I feel why should the state be allowed to suffer?

Q How do you view the ensuing bypolls in the state? Are you really confident your party will get some seats at least? How do you view the Jagan Mohan Reddy impact on state politics?

A. It is the wonder of the world that Jagan Mohan Reddy, the most undesirable, antisocial element, is allowed to have this impact in state politics. He should have been put in jail long back for all his illegal activities. As I told you, the Congress is responsible for this situation. In more than three decades of public life I can’t understand how a person like Jagan Mohan Reddy, within a span of just five years, has amassed not only ill-gotten wealth but is also involved in many criminal activities. It is quite funny that such a man goes to the masses and tries to convince them that he will be their saviour. It is because of the Congress’ mistakes that Jagan Mohan Reddy has established some respectability and credibility for himself.

Q Do you think he will sweep the next elections and come to power?

A. No, that won’t happen. The Jagan affect is a temporary phenomenon in AP politics. He has already reached his peak and his power has started to diminish now; it will vanish by the next elections. Almost everyone has started exposing his activities and there will be a rethinking by people soon. Everyone felt that Chiranjeevi would have a major effect in the 2009 elections, but what happened? Similarly, Jagan will lose everything and ultimately land in jail. For all this, the Congress is responsible. I wonder how (Chief Minister) N. Kiran Kumar Reddy can call Jagan Mohan Reddy antisocial, criminal and corrupt now, as if he was not aware of it for the last two years. Why did he not act when allegations against Jagan Mohan Reddy were first made? Had he taken action then, Jagan would not have had any public support.

Q There is criticism against the TD that it targets only Jagan Mohan Reddy and not the other ministers and officials involved in the alleged irregularities in issuance of 26 GOs that have helped Jagan.

A. No, that is not a fact. We demand action against the ministers and officials also. The CM should have removed the ministers and booked cases against them. Why should government allow people to go to the courts? It should have acted in the first instance. The CM has failed on this front too. I may remind you that when I was the CM, I removed some ministers who were facing corruption charges and denied tickets to them in the next elections. I am asking the CM, if you are convinced that Jagan Mohan Reddy is a criminal, why do you not take action against him even now?

Q Do you expect major changes after next month's byelections? What will be your party's role in that?

A. I don't expect or visualise any major changes in state politics after the poll results. I still hope the results will not be one-sided. TD will definitely get a few seats. In a few segments my main opponent is the Congress; of course, in many places it is Jagan Mohan Reddy. It will be a wonder of wonders if Jagan wins all the seats. Jagan is the most dreaded person in state politics. If Dawood Ibrahim wins, or if Bhanu Kiran wins, what is the meaning of it? Similarly, if Jagan is going to win all the seats there will be no meaning for democracy. In fact Jagan is more dangerous than the other two criminals. He is even trying to intimidate the judiciary. I believe he wants to destroy all institutions with no respect for democracy and with the sole aim of looting the state. His downfall has started. He has become desperate now. I am afraid as the most senior politician of the state that if people are going to support such a person it is dangerous for the country and the state.

Q So, what will you do? Will you move a No-Confidence motion agai-nst the government? Do you think the Kiran Kumar Reddy government will not survive the bypolls?

A. I admit there has been political instability in the state, particularly after the demise of YSR. That may continue even after the by-polls. But I am not a man in a hurry to come to power at any cost. I will wait for my turn. Like any other political party, I also play my cards. I don’t do anything that may give advantage to some other party. If the Congress government collapses under its own weight, and if general elections come due to that, then that is their fate. But I will not do anything to destabilise the government and force mid-term polls. I will wait till 2014. The TD will decide its strategy based on the political developments that may take place.

Q Do you think the TD is still strong in the state? Don't you feel the impact of Telangana and the Jagan issue have weakened your party?

A. That is not correct. This is a temporary phase in state politics; everything will be changed soon. When I visited Ongole the other day, people greeted me with placards saying, “The state wants your leadership”. The TD and myself have established credibility. My USP is good governance and stable governance. People also want change. I am there as their alternative. I am a politician with character, self-discipline, never committed a sin — this is also my USP.

Q Why then are TD leaders leaving the party and joining the YSR Congress and other parties?

A. It is very good for my party if such people leave. Whoever has left me, they do not have values, are senile, disgruntled, tired, spent forces and lumpen elements. I am not worried about this. The party automatically gets rejuvenated. I believe Jagan's men are offering huge sums and posts to some of the TD leaders to defect. This will only strengthen my party. I observed in Ongole, my former MLA, G. Narasaiah, joined the YSR Congress. But not a single worker went along with him. This shows that there will be no affect on my party due to so-called desertions. I have decided to take on Jagan. I will expose him on one side, and on the other side I will also start counselling the public on the dangers about him.

Q You have been accusing Jagan of indulging in caste and religion politics. If that is so, how do you justify Kamma leaders of your party also joining him? You are also openly asking Kapu leaders to re-join your party?

A. Yes, it is a fact, Jagan encourages his brother-in-law Anil to visit churches and get their promises by saying Jagan is a Christian. Jagan’s followers say he is a Reddy and the Reddy community should support him. As far as my appeal to Kapus is concerned, I used to maintain a balance in social groups in the party and in government. Some people left me and joined Chiranjeevi some time ago. I only asked them to realise the situation and join me back. I am not here to encourage any particular community, including the Kamma caste to which I belong. I have a proven track record on maintaining distance from casteist politics and have been doing justice to all communities. Right from my university days, social justice was my pet subject.

Q Why is the TD not active in national politics? What is your role now?

A. National politics is now based on numbers. We have the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and we also have the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). I admit so far there are no efforts to cobble a third front or third alternative at national level. But I may remind you that an alternative like the United Front came into being suddenly after the 1996 polls. The TD will definitely play a key role in national politics, but the time has to come. I take this opportunity to demand either the President or Vice-President’s post should this time go to a South Indian. I will talk to like-minded leaders on the issue.