Oppn parties likely to join forces against Modi at Chandrababu Naidu''s dharna

Ravi S.Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 10

The opposition parties will take another shot to demonstrate their unity against Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Monday by joining Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu's daylong dharna to press for special category status to his state ahead of the general election.

Leaders of opposition parties are expected to join Naidu in his agitation.

Less than a month ago, leaders of political parties participated in a well-attended "United India" rally in Kolkata which was organised by West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC president Mamata Banerjee in which they pledged to oust Modi.

TDP parliamentary party leader and Rajya Sabha member YS Chowdary said on Monday that Naidu will sit on dharna along with his party MPs, Ministers and MLAs and a number of organisations, including student and employee bodies, from the state. He will also observe a fast.

"The Chief Minister has been fighting with the Centre on Special Category Status," said Chowdary, who was Minister in Modi's Council of Minister before TDP walked out of the NDA.

"Important leaders of many political parties will express their solidarity to the Chief Minister during his agitation," he added.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's media adviser T Srinivas said Naidu will also lead a delegation to President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday on the special status issue. TDP legislators will be part of it.

The agitation will be preceded by Naidu's visit to Rajghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

Naidu is among the leaders working for opposition unity. Along with Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Kerala and Karnataka, he had joined Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his agitation against Centre's alleged interference in Delhi, last year.

The opposition parties are on their guard against allowing BJP to spread its footprints in southern states and increase its share of Lok Sabha seats.

With survey reports projecting saffron party reducing its present seats in the northern states, especially Uttar Pradesh, it has set its eyes in southern states and West Bengal to make up the possible loss.