VIJAYAWADA: The main opposition TDP has decided to take its fight with the ruling YSRC to New Delhi.
A five-member delegation led by party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu will meet President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday with a request to invoke President’s rule under Article 356 in Andhra Pradesh.
The delegation is also planning to meet Union home minister Amit Shah. A detailed representation has been prepared alleging that there is a “deterioration” of law and order. It also highlights the attack on TDP offices at Mangalagiri and in some parts of the state.
TDP sources said that the appointment with the President has been fixed at 12:45 pm on Monday. Though the appointment was given for five members only, an 18-member team including senior functionaries and politburo members headed for New Delhi on Sunday. Naidu and his team will stay in Delhi for two days as the appointment with Amit Shah is yet to be confirmed.
Speaking to TOI, TDP politburo member Payyavula Keshav, who has been coordinating with the appointments, said that they will explain the prevailing situation in Andhra Pradesh. “We will seek the Government of India’s intervention by way of invoking Article 356,” he said.
While the appointment with the President has been confirmed, there is no clarity on the appointment with Amit Shah. Though the TDP leaders are tight lipped over the meeting agenda with Amit Shah, it is not clear whether the meeting would bring the TDP and the BJP together once again. The parties had parted ways just before the assembly polls.
Naidu is touring Delhi after more than two years and it is the first time that he is meeting Amit Shah (if confirmed) after he snapped ties with BJP in 2018. Speculation is rife that TDP is looking to form an alliance again with BJP and Jana Sena. Keshav said that they have asked for Amit Shah’s appointment. “However, as Amit Shah is in Jammu, we will get clarity on his appointment only after he returns to Delhi,” he said.
