Repeat of 1996 in 2019 a real possibility: Naidu on a 'Third Front' forming govt
Machilipatnam: TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday said there is a "real possibility" of the country witnessing a repeat of 1996 in 2019 where regional parties will come together after the Lok Sabha polls to evolve a 'Third Front' and form a government.
Naidu also said Congress will remain as an "anchor party" and that the decision on a prime ministerial candidate will be taken depending on the number of seats won by the Front partners.
The assessment by Naidu came notwithstanding the failed efforts by Congress and other opposition parties to form a pre-poll 'mahagathbandhan' or a grand alliance to present a united front against the BJP.
H D Deve Gowda, the current JD(S) supremo, became the prime minister of a United Front(UF) government heading a group of regional parties backed by the Left and Congress from outside after the 1996 Lok Sabha polls threw a fractured verdict in which the BJP had emerged as the single largest party. Naidu was the convener of the Front then.
"A repeat of 1996 in 2019 is a real possibility and this cannot be ruled out," Naidu told PTI in an interview.
Naidu also said it is unlikely the BJP will cross the 200 mark due to what he called "growing negative wave" against the Modi government.
Naidu, who is seeking a second term as the chief minister of the residual state of Andhra Pradesh, said his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was confident of sweeping both the assembly and Lok Sabha elections and defeat the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Campaigning for the polls ended Tuesday.
Polling will be held in single phase on April 11 in 175 assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies that has an electorate of 3.93 crore.
"Now every regional party is slowly distancing from the BJP. That itself is a downside for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An year back, can anyone dare to oppose Modi. The Modi wave has come down drastically and the negative wave for him has started," Naidu said.
Asked if the saffron party will be able to cross 200 seats, he said, "It is difficult because there is substantial negativity against the BJP".
On one hand, the BJP has failed to deliver on its promises made in the 2014 poll manifesto, while on the other it has destroyed the democratic fabric of India by threatening the CBI and other independent agencies, he added.
Naidu, who broke away from an alliance with the BJP at the Centre early 2018 over the demand for special status for Andhra Pradesh, said a likely strong performance of regional parties could go against the BJP if the local parties unite together after the polls.
Asked if there could be the repeat of 1996 in 2019, he said, "Everything is possible. We should not speculate things right now. I don't want to vitiate the atmosphere right now. Post elections, we will discuss."
"It will all depend on numbers and post-poll consensus. There is a democratic compulsion and earlier there was a secular and political compulsion. Now, there is political compulsion for all parties to come together against the BJP."
On Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and YSRCP, both of whom are perceived to be 'B team' of BJP, going soft on Congress, Naidu said they are doing "drama" to retain their minority votes.
"Of course, it is all drama. All minorities have decided to vote against BJP. Now, they are in dilemma and therefore talking all these things," he said, adding they are "playing dirty games."
Asked if TRS chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao might join any Congress-led alliance post poll, Naidu said, "Let them come. On what condition they want to come and under what circumstances they will join I cannot say. Earlier, he said there will be a federal front(of non-Congress, non-BJP parties) and later became a Modi friend. He is a beneficiary from BJP and we are suffering."
On electoral prospects for the TDP in the assembly polls, Naidu said there is a very positive sentiment in favour of his party and there is no problem for winning, but it is a question of winning the constituencies with a big majority.
"We are aiming 150-plus and let us hope for the best," Naidu said, adding that the main fight is against the YSRCP which, he alleged, is being funded by K Chandrashekar Rao, also called KCR.
"YSRCP is contesting alone but has a hidden pact with BJP. Now, KCR is supporting him. Why KCR is funding Jagan's election? Is it to capture Andhra Pradesh? We don't want your (KCR) rule here. Who are you?" he said.
In 2014, the TDP and the BJP had fought together in Andhra Pradesh. This time, the TDP is contesting elections alone to take on the YSRCP. The Congress is on the sidelines while the BJP is fighting a losing battle. Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party, which has tied up with Left parties and the BSP, is yet to be tested as a formidable challenger.
In 2014, Naidu in alliance with the BJP scraped through with 106 of the 175 Assembly seats. For the 25 Lok Sabha seats, the TDP won 16 and BJP 2. The YSRCP had 68 seats and 7 MPs.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
