Chandrababu Naidu
Highlights
- Naidu said that the YSRCP members made abusive comments about his wife.
- Naidu likened the Assembly to 'Kaurava Sabha' and decided to boycott it till 2024.
- Will return to assembly only after becoming the chief minister, he said.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandrababu Naidu broke down on Friday while addressing a press conference, saying that the YS Jagan-led ruling party in the state has been doing revenge politics in the state since it came into power.
Covering his face with both his hands, Naidu was seen weeping inconsolably. He had earlier walked out of the assembly and vowed to re-enter the House only after he becomes the Chief Minister again.
Naidu, 71, alleged that the ruling party members in the assembly made abusive comments about his wife during a debate on women empowerment on the second day of the winter session.
The former AP CM likened the Assembly to 'Kaurava Sabha' and decided to boycott it till 2024 in protest against 'ugly character assassinations' by YSRCP ministers & MLAs," the TDP in a statement.
He said that he has never been humiliated and insulted in such a manner throught his decades of political experience. "The opposition leaders are being targeted," he added.
"This is a dharma poratam (just battle) against the atrocious rule of the YSRC. I will go to the people and seek their support. If people co-operate, I will strive to save the state,” the TDP chief said.
Earlier in the state Legislative Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition said in an emotion-filled tone that the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party had been continuously casting a slur on him for the past two-and-a-half years.
"I have been bearing the insults for the sake of people, but remained calm. Today, they have targeted even my wife. I always lived with honour and for honour. I can take it no more," Chandrababu said.
Though he continued to speak, Speaker Tammineni Seetaram cut the mike even as the ruling party members called Chandrababu's remarks a "drama".
The former Chief Minister vent his frustration following an acrimonious exchange of words between the two sides in the House during a short discussion on the farm sector. Later, he held an impromptu meeting with his party legislators in his chamber, where he reportedly broke down. Stunned TDP legislators consoled Chandrababu, after which they all came back into the House.
Chandrababu then announced his decision, but that did not go on record, even as he left in a huff. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who later came into the House, said the Opposition leader’s behavior and words were nothing but a drama.
"Chandrababu only seeks to derive political mileage out of everything. It is very unfortunate. His drama was visible to all eyes, though I was not inside the House at the time,” Jagan observed.
"Yes, Chandrababu Naidu’s condition, and that he is in frustration, is known not only to me, but also to everyone in the state. People of the state have openly rejected him. Even in his own Kuppam constituency, he, unimaginably, faced people’s rejection,” the Chief Minister remarked. He said the YSRC legislators did not speak anything about the (opposition leader’s) family members.
"It was Chandrababu himself who spoke about my family members (slain uncle, mother and sister) and there was no reference to his family from our side. The House records clearly prove that," Jagan added.
But Chandrababu himself over-reacted and became emotional. "Not only that, he went on to take a vow. We all have seen that. But ultimately, God will be observing all this from above," the Chief Minister said.
