The sudden criticisms from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah against YS Jaganmohan Reddy government, just a week ahead of the polling, is surprising everyone in political circles.
Even after forging alliance with BJP and Jana Sena, top BJP leaders maintained distance from the poll campaign. Though Modi and Amit Shah have been campaigning in states that are going polling in the fourth phase from last week of April onwards, none of them visited Andhra Pradesh.
TDP, Jana Sena and even local BJP leaders have been insisting for the transfer of AP DGP and Chief Secretary due to their proximity with the ruling party since the last two months. They expected both of them to be transferred in the first week of April.
However, suddenly on Sunday addressing a public meeting in Dharmavaram Amit Shah lamented YS Jagan’s regime for its land, sand and liquor mafia and ignoring the development of the state. The same language was repeated by Prime Minister Modi on Monday in Rajahmundry and Anakapalli.
For the first time, both the leaders acknowledged that the state of Andhra Pradesh witnessed an era of development during Chandrababu Naidu’s governance and it was spoiled by YS Jagan.
Hours after Amit Shah’s speech, AP DGP KV Rajendranath Reddy was shifted and the next day Anantapur DIG was also shifted.
Even one surprising change in the attitude of the top BJP leaders. During the AP tour, both Modi and Amit Shah were silent on contentious issues like scrapping of Muslim reservations and AP Land Titling Act. It may be recalled that as against the BJP’s agenda, both TDP and Jana Sena have been asserting that their government will protect Muslim reservations and scrap AP Land Titling Act. CM Jagan is claiming that this act was prepared by the Modi government.
This sudden attitude was said to be due to fear of losing its grip in their stronghold states like Rajasthan, Karnataka and Maharashtra. So, they felt that the NDA should win most of the seats to form the next government at the center.