Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will be leaving for Delhi late on Monday to participate in the Vice Presidential nomination event on Tuesday. While this above-said official reason for the trip has been confirmed, there is growing speculation about the actual reason for the visit. Political analysts believe that the visit by the Chief Minister can be linked to major political developments pertaining to the state, since the timing aligns with important deliberations at the national level.
Minister Nara Lokesh is also heading to Delhi on Sunday night, giving rise to further speculation. His earlier visit ahead of the Chief Minister’s departure has raised more questions about the agenda and the common goals of the two leaders. The Chief Minister and Minister Lokesh are also likely to be present at a critical NDA meeting on Monday when the leaders will finalize and decide on the Vice Presidential candidate. The official nomination event will take place on Tuesday with the two leaders attending the proceedings.
Lokesh has reportedly lined up a number of high-level meetings with central ministers during his Delhi sojourn. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other major government officials to discuss state initiatives and projects. While there is speculation that the visit is aimed at seeking funding for the state projects, there are rumors that the talks may be about political strategizing.
Against the background of these meetings, rumors are being spread that both Chandrababu and Lokesh are meeting with central leaders on a crucial political step to undermine the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Social media discussions indicate that a big political decision is in the offing, and the state government is acting fast to take action. The ongoing investigation into the liquor scam, led by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), is also reportedly at the center of these discussions.
It is thought that the government of Andhra Pradesh is directing its attention to identifying the ultimate beneficiaries of the liquor scam, and new evidence is said to be emerging. The government is in the process of obtaining sanction to take stern action against the perpetrators, and it is rumored that they plan to utilize the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to register charges and arrest people.
TDP sources indicate that the Chief Minister and Minister Lokesh are likely to take key decisions during their Delhi visit. The result of the deliberations may decide the line of action in the probe into the liquor scam and possibly influence the state’s political situation. The visit has certainly generated a buzz about the future politics of the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh.