Chandrababu Naidu says compulsion unites Opposition

New Delhi: Stepping up efforts to stitch together an anti-BJP front ahead of 2019, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday met BSP chief Mayawati and an array of political leaders in the national capital and clearly indicated that a stable Opposition dispensation will have to include the Congress.

The TD chief expressed confidence that “political compulsions” will bring together all non-BJP parties to fight the NDA.

In a packed visit to Delhi, the TD chief also pitched himself as a “facilitator” in helping evolve a credible alternative to the NDA. The leaders he met included his Delhi counterpart and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, Jammu and Kashmir leader Farooq Abdullah and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav and some Left leaders. He stressed on the need to take everybody along to “save the nation”.

“It is only (because of) political compulsion and in the overall interest of the nation, parties will join together. Some may not join before elections, some of them may join after elections,” he said.

When asked whether he was exploring options of cobbling together a Third Front, Mr Naidu maintained that it was not possible to provide an alternative Opposition formation at the Centre without a “national party”, which in this case was clearly the Congress.

“So without a national party you cannot form a government at the Centre. How to form a government? We have to give confidence to the people now. All of us have to join together, those who are interested in the nation,” he said.  

The Andhra CM said that the TD was the first regional party to move a no-confidence motion against the Modi government and get the support of all parties for that.

“I have to play my role…my bit. I am a small man. I know that my province has only 25 LS seats. I want to work on how to save this great nation.”