Naidu slams INDIA bloc for playing Telugu card

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday questioned the Opposition INDIA bloc for nominating B Sudarshan Reddy as a candidate for the the post of vice president while his defeat was certain.

He slammed the Opposition for expecting the TDP to vote for Sudarshan Reddy and playing the Telugu card after Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy appealed to all the regional parties in the two Telugu states to vote for him.

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Meanwhile, Naidu met NDA’s vice-presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan in New Delhi and congratulated him. During the courtesy meeting, he pledged his party’s support to him.

When asked about the appeal from the Opposition, who played the Telugu card, a miffed TDP supremo said, “How can they expect? Is it right ethically?… Telugu Desam Party is for the Telugu community. It is a different issue. Here, we are in alliance.”

He also slammed the INDIA for nominating a Telugu despite knowing that his defeat was certain.

He further said, “There is a clear majority. It is a very dignified post. Why did they bring in another candidate?”

Naidu said he had known the vice-presidential candidate for a long time and endorsed him as the best candidate. Criticizing the INDIA bloc, including the Congress, for putting up a candidate, the AP chief minister said, “That is their politics. But we are not playing politics here. We have a majority and we are going to win comfortably.”

Earlier in the day, Naidu met Dr Arvind Panagariya, chairman of the 16th Finance Commission of India, and discussed the state’s rightful share of revenue. The Commission’s recommendations will play a crucial role in ensuring equitable devolution of resources for the state’s development. He also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking funds for the state.