Exclusive/ Only Thing That Chandrababu Naidu Wants Is Development, Nara Lokesh Tells Arnab | Exclusive

New Delhi: The only thing that Chandrababu Naidu wants is the development of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu's son and TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh said on Friday while speaking in an exclusive conversation with Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on the Prime Time Max segment of the Debate With Arnab.

Times have changed and the tables have turned, the first time MLA told Arnab, adding, “We look forward to delivering a strong and stable government in Andhra Pradesh”.  

Reiterating that his party's support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is unconditional, Lokesh expressed hope over receiving the Centre's assistance to revive the economy.

“We joined the NDA unconditionally, even before the elections began. Together, we will create 20 lakh jobs in a span of five years; that's our agenda”, he underlined while stressing that the end outcome is what the people of the state will hold the elected representatives and the party accountable on.

Key BJP allies – TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Chief Minister and JDU supremo Nitish Kumar – have endorsed PM Modi as the leader of the NDA with a message to balance regional aspirations and national interests with Naidu saying that Modi's rallies in Andhra Pradesh helped the TDP win 16 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

We only look forward to work towards development as we believe strong states make for a strong nation, he said.

Speaking at the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting held in the national capital, BJP allies JDS leader HD Kumarswamy, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, NCP chief Ajit Pawar, HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi among others supported the proposal moved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to elect Modi as the leader of the NDA.

Furthermore, the TDP General Secretary drew parallels between the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Centre and the Narendra Modi government, as he asserted that his party's support to Vajpayee had always been unconditional. 

“He (Vajpayee) had also reciprocated by providing  the state of Andhra Pradesh with a lot of benefits”, he quipped.

Stressing that TDP supports PM Modi's mission and vision whole-heartedly, Lokesh further said that in PM Modi's dream to make India a five trillion dollar economy, Andhra can be a trillion dollar economy.

Responding to a question on the foot march he had embarked on, the first time MLA told Arnab, "Padayatra helped me understand people's aspirations and their problems in a much better way".

The TDP General Secretary further commented on the Congress party's style of operation and leadership, and recalled how his party was founded as a challenger against the Congress.

Claiming that the region was divided against the wishes of the majority of people residing in current Andhra, Lokesh told Arnab, “We didn't believe in the leadership of the Congress and the way they had governed Andhra Pradesh”, adding, "We are very conscious about our past".

Responding to a question on how the TDP members plan on navigating potential challenges in terms of differences in ideologies and belief systems with their coalition partners within the NDA, he said, "As a part of the relationship and journey, there will be areas we might not agree upon. But we look forward to discussing and resolving, and (eventually) finding a common ground".

India is a diverse nation and we have to represent the aspirations of all the states, he added.