Chandrababu Naidu바카라�s Return To Andhra Pradesh

From walking out of the NDA alliance in 2018 after no movement in the demand for the 바카라�special status바카라� promised to Andhra at time of its bifurcation, to helping Narendra Modi and his BJP form a government at the centre in 2024, Chandrababu Naidu바카라�s political journey has come a full circle.

The Telugu Desam Party won 16 Lok Sabha seats and 135 assembly seats in the general and assembly election respectively, that were held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh. This sweeping victory catapulted Naidu to a kingmaker바카라�s role in national politics after BJP failed to secure the majority required to form a government on its own. The TDP is the second largest constituent in the BJP-led NDA with 16 MPs. 

For the last few days, all eyes have been on Naidu and what he바카라�s going to do next. What바카라�s at stake for him?

The state of Andhra Pradesh and its people have been demanding a Special Category Status since 2014, when AP was bifurcated and Telangana was formed as a separate state. The Centre grants the Special Category Status to some states to assist their development, based on certain geographical and socio-economic disadvantages. The scheme was introduced on the recommendation of the Fifth Finance Commission in 1969.

Andhra has been demanding SCS on the grounds of the loss it had to incur in the aftermath of the bifurcation in 2014. The UPA government at the centre had then promised special status to AP to compensate for the loss of revenue, and of the city of Hyderabad, where much of the development was concentrated. 

Although TDP was part of the first Modi government in 2014, there was no headway on the special status demand. In March 2018, Naidu quit the NDA after facing criticism over the same, and launched a tirade against Modi and his government ahead of the Assembly election of May 2019. 

As TDP walks back into the alliance this election, all eyes will be on how Naidu will convince his BJP allies to grant SCS to Andhra Pradesh 바카라� a long-pending promise that even YSRCP leader and former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy had made, albeit with no success.

Chandrababu Naidu's wishlist

Prior to the alliance, BJP바카라�s presence in AP was a mere 0.8 per cent, explains E Venkatesu, Professor of Political Science, University of Hyderabad and member in CSDS-Lokniti network. 바카라�After forming the alliance with TDP, BJP managed to get 2.5 per cent of seats in the state on its own. Its future in the state will depend on how well it can work out the alliance,바카라� he says.

With Naidu now as the 바카라�kingmaker바카라�, he is likely to push for several plump portfolios in Modi바카라�s Cabinet and has even demanded the Speaker바카라�s post, according to media reports. He is also likely to seek the elevation of his son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh to the national stage. Lokesh had taken over the works of TDP when his father was jailed and has been publicly credited for the party바카라�s sweep in the elections this time. 

Just few days ago, Nara Lokesh voiced his support for continuing reservation for Muslims. "It's a fact that minorities continue to suffer and that they have the lowest per-capita income...It(reservation for Muslims) has been going around for two decades and we stand by it. We intend to continue it," he said, which is in stark contrast to the Modi government's stance on reservations for Muslims.

So how the two parties balance their interests and opinions will be seen in the coming few months. 바카라�Naidu has a rich experience in working with coalition governments,바카라� says Venkatesu, adding that he is expected to strike the right balance between regional interests and social engineering, considering that BJP cannot form a majority without TDP바카라�s support.

Naidu바카라�s previous run-ins with the BJP

Although their alliance worked out this time, Naidu and Modi have a chequered past, one that바카라�s often brought up by the media when both leaders share the same frame. 

After the 2002 Godhra riots in Gujarat, Naidu criticised Modi바카라�s handling of the situation and demanded his resignation. 

In 2019, Naidu publicly called Modi a 바카라�hardcore terrorist바카라�. 바카라�Narendra Modi is a hardcore terrorist바카라�If you (minorities) vote for Modi, many problems will arise바카라�this Modi brought Triple Talaq Act to put you behind bars바카라�I was the first person who demanded his resignation (after 2002 Gujarat riots)바카라�.Most countries banned his entry. After becoming the Prime Minister, he is again trying to attack minorities,바카라� he said at a rally in Chhittoor. 

The BJP too has criticised Naidu in the past on multiple occasions. Home Minister Amit Shah had said in 2019 that they had 바카라�permanently shut the doors바카라� for the TDP. In his first address since the breakdown of alliance in 2018, the Prime Minister had said, 바카라�There are four truths about Naidu. First is his fear of loss in the coming elections. Second is he wants to promote his son in politics. The third is his personal wealth creation and fourth is his fear of the person standing in front of you, your chowdikar,바카라� he said. 바카라�Ye baap-beta ki sarkar phir nahi aayegi.바카라�