(Online Desk)

Usually busy TDP supremo and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, for the last couple of days seen unusually busy with party MPs and 'think tank'.  Reason: How to wriggle out from the mess he landed himself as far as 'Special status" demand was concerned.

This was in the wake of Modi-led NDA government's firm 'no' to such demand as it is not Constitutionally tangible.  Instead, financial package.

On Friday, Naidu was seen going into a huddle, first with party MPs and later on with the newly-formed strategy committee besides interacting via video conference with reportedly 15,000 party leaders in the 13 districts.

At the end of it all, as is his wont, he kept the cards close to his chest but outlined the broad contours of his strategy vis-a-vis the BJP: crucial decisions will be taken depending on the situation in the process of upping the pressure on the Centre step by step. However, reliable sources admits that TDP’s exit from the NDA is now just a matter of weeks.

When some party leaders opined that continuing in the NDA could send wrong signals to the people, the Chief Minister quipped that timing is important in politics and observed, “One should neither be hasty nor sluggish. Both will backfire.”

In this context, he dismissed YSRC chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s query on the logic behind the TDP continuing in the NDA, wondering if the party should learn from the main accused in 11 cases. In the same breath, he felt that resignation of MPs would not be of any use.

TDP insiders said it was decided at the meeting to up the ante and that Naidu was firm that injustice done to the State by both the national parties, BJP and Congress, must be explained to the people loud and clear. He advised the party leaders to visit their respective constituencies with the same message and also make it crystal clear that TDP is not playing politics.

When contacted, Parakala Prabhakar, communications advisor to the State government and a member of the strategy committee, told TNIE that the strategy committee formed by the Chief Minister would coordinate with MPs, and State leaders and follow developments in the national capital and the State to chalk out a way forward.

Asked about the mood in the government, he said the unusually harsh presser by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was uncalled for, and distasteful coming as it did after a restrained and impassioned speech of the Chief Minister in the State Assembly.

Naidu wants BJP, Congress exposed: CM Naidu wants his party leaders to tell the people in their respective constituencies how both BJP and Congress did injustice to the state. However, he does not want to burn bridges with NDA by himself, and said resignation of MPs would serve no purpose 

BJP leaders may jump ship: The State BJP is in disarray with several leaders up in arms against party president Haribabu. The party is holding a core committee meeting on Sunday following which some leaders may join either TDP or YSR Congress. A senior party leader said BJP is as good as decimated in the State

“Just a couple of hours before his press conference, the Chief Minister had delivered a speech in the State Assembly and was very restrained. What is very distasteful is the manner in which Jaitley chose to speak (to the State government) through the media instead of the official channel of communication.

The Chief Minister is after all the senior-most leader in the country and an ally of the ruling coalition at that.” He indicated that Jaitley’s press conference left the TDP with no option but to pull out of the NDA government but made it clear that the TDP doesn’t want to burn the bridges by itself.

The TDP strategists also appeared dismissive of the challenge thrown at the TDP by YSRC chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to support or move a no-confidence motion against the Modi government. The YSRC on Friday said it was ready to move a no-confidence motion on Monday itself instead of March 21 and sought to know the TDP’s stand.