Chandrababu Naidu

Every Budget, however visionary or populist, will always find someone aggrieved at its provisions. This time, it is a coalition partner. The BJP’s partner at the Centre and in Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, claims a great travesty has been done unto his state. According to him, the state is suffering from a huge revenue deficit and is hurting from its recent bifurcation, and Narendra Modi, while getting into a coalition with his Telugu Desam Party (TDP), had promised to help the state. According to Naidu, the budget doesn’t do enough for his state. But the Chief Minister isn’t just airing his grievances publically. He is also threatening to get the TDP to quit the Cabinet, and is reaching out to other coalition partners who are reportedly upset over the policies announced in the Budget.

According to some media reports, Naidu plans to pressure the BJP Government by rallying the Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena to the cause. What Naidu is practising, out in the open, is that old form of theatrical politics. He tries to curry favour with the ruling party to his political advantage, and when that doesn’t work, he tries to issue threats to get his way. It’s been seen through.

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