Chandrababu Naidu tests Narendra Modi credibility

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Hyderabad: Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu’s efforts at proximity with Bharatiya Janata Party may put the credibility of the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to test.
On the personal front, the TD supremo had made a scathing attack on Modi during the Gujarat riots and demanded the BJP central leadership to sack the latter from the post.
But, Naidu has now been trying to repeat 1999 electoral performance banking on the positive image Modi has been able to create in the minds of  the urban youth.
On the contentious Telangana issue, TD sources said Naidu would insist the BJP rethink its stand at least as the  Congress has failed to address the concerns of Seemandhra. The BJP has already pointed out that the Congress has failed to achieve consensus unlike the former which peacefully bifurcated three states.
“Our priority is to see that the division is stalled because it will be difficult to go with the BJP, which is equally responsible, along with Congress, for creation of Telangana,” said a senior party leader from the coastal districts.
The TD leaders have been trying to convince their counterparts in the BJP that together they could make a big difference not only in Seemandhra but in peripheral constituencies of capital city as well.
Modi, has repeatedly referred to the party’s commitment to smaller states, will have to compromise on its principles if he agrees to Naidu’s strategy.
The state BJP, dominated by the leaders from Telangana region, however caution that any rethink on the division would sound a death knell for the party in 10 districts.
Significantly, BJP president Rajnath Singh made it clear that the party is committed to the bifurcation during the press briefing immediately after his meeting with Naidu.
“We will tell the TD to redraw its strategies conceding Telangana and focus on development in Seemandhra,” a BJP leader pointed out.
The saffron brigade is worried that the party will once again lose the opportunity to grow in stature in Telangana where party sees a bright future as the lone alternative to the Congress once TRS merges with the latter.