Naidu meets Mamata to discuss post-poll strategy
- 20 May 2019
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee met here on Monday to discuss the prospects of the post-poll alliance of the opposition parties against the BJP, sources said.
However, neither of them talked to the media following the around 45-minute-long meeting that was held at Banerjee’s residence in south Kolkata’s Kalighat.
On his arrival, Naidu was welcomed by Banerjee’s nephew and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim.
According to the sources, the two leaders discussed the importance of uniting all the anti-BJP parties under one umbrella and constituting a common minimum agenda.
Naidu also briefed Banerjee regarding his meetings with Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday, sources said.
Unfazed by the exit polls which predicted that the YSR Congress Party will storm to power in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said he was “cent per cent” sure of his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) retaining power.
He told a news conference that he had not even remotest doubt about the TDP’s victory in the elections.
The TDP supremo believes that the welfare and development programmes undertaken by his government during last five years would help it get a fresh mandate.
Naidu claimed that on his appeal, Andhra Pradesh voters living in Telangana rushed to the state by whatever mode of transport available and stood in queues till 4.30am the next day to cast their votes.
Earlier, during a teleconference with TDP leaders, Naidu predicted that the party will win 110 seats in the 175-member Assembly. “Our seats may even go up to 120-130,” he said.
Expressing confidence that of 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the TDP will bag 18-20, he alleged that some people were playing mind games to create confusion.
Most of the exit polls on Sunday predicted that the YSRCP will come to power in Andhra Pradesh with 110-130 seats. However, three exit polls including one by former MP L. Rajagopal projected victory for the TDP.
Similarly, a majority of the exit polls gave the YSRCP 12-15 Lok Sabha seats and the TDP 10-13.
The IANS-CVOTER exit poll predicted 14 seats for TDP while giving 11 to its main rival YSRCP.
Naidu had tweeted late on Sunday that time and again exit polls failed to catch the people’s pulse.
He recalled that exit polls in 2014 had also predicted victory for the YSRCP. “Then the exit polls were one-sided but this time they are mixed. I don’t know why YSRCP leaders are happy,” he said.
Naidu said it had become habit for people to do surveys. He claimed that the TDP has been doing surveys for last 35 years not just about elections but also about the impact of welfare and development programmes.
Naidu, who had held a series of meeting during last two days with several leaders including United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati, said the efforts were aimed at forging an alternative.
“I met all so that a collective decision is taken. I will continue my efforts till May 23,” he said.
Naidu reiterated that time and again exit polls failed to catch the people’s pulse.
“Exit polls have proved to be incorrect and far from ground reality in many instances,” he had tweeted Sunday after majority of the exit polls shows BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form the government by winning about 300 seats.
“While undoubtedly TDP govt will be formed in AP, we are confident that non-BJP parties will form a non-BJP govt at the centre,” he said in another tweet.
Naidu slammed the Election Commission, saying it lost its credibility by its actions like giving clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah.
He reiterated that the Electronic Voting Machines can be manipulated and demanded that the poll body count VVPAT slips to bring transparency in the system and create confidence among people.
Indo-Asian News Service
