In Delhi, Chandrababu Naidu meets Mayawati, Yashwant Sinha, Arvind Kejriwal to build grand alliance for LS polls

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu met Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati in New Delhi on Saturday. Naidu, flew into the national capital in the morning, also met Jammu and Kashmir leader Farooq Abdullah and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav as he tries to rally the support of other opposition parties against the Narendra Modi government. Later in the evening, Naidu also met former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, and called on CPI leaders D Raja and S Sudhakar Reddy at the Andhra Bhawan.

“The CBI inquiry is going on, it’s under trial. Even our PM had said that all culprits in political corruption cases will be punished within one year time. On the contrary, some people are escaping. You’re supporting tainted parties and victimising those who oppose you,” Naidu said at a press conference. 

Naidu also alleged that his government was wrongfully targeted after an attack on political rival Jaganmoan Reddy of the YSR Congress this week.

“The opposition leader (Jagan Mohan Reddy) came to Visakhapatnam airport. Some person attacked him with knife. Airport is under Central Industrial Security Force. After some time, they handed over that fellow and our people took him into custody. But BJP accused TDP govt,” Naidu said.

The meetings are significant considering that the Lok Sabha polls are barely a few months away. 

"Had a gud meeting wid Sh Chandrababu Naidu ji. Sh Sharad Yadav ji was also present for a while. Discussed national issues.?Present BJP govt is a threat to the nation n to the Constitution. People across India will need to join hands to save India n the Constitution (sic)," the Delhi chief minister tweeted after meeting Naidu.

Had a gud meeting wid Sh Chandrababu Naidu ji. Sh Sharad Yadav ji was also present for a while. Discussed national issues. Present BJP govt is a threat to the nation n to the Constitution. People across India will need to join hands to save India n the Constitution pic.twitter.com/9nyEmI24oH

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 27, 2018

On October 23, Naidu said "everything has collapsed" in the country under the BJP-led regime at the Centre. Naidu also targeted the government over the feud between Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana, which turned murkier with the arrest of a deputy SP in the Special Investigation Team headed by Asthana over bribery charges.

The former ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Naidu also demanded the abolition of Rs 500 and Rs 2000 denomination currency notes to curb corruption.  

(With PTI inputs)