Visakhapatnam
A delegation of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders, led by TDP’s Andhra Pradesh unit president K. Atchannaidu, met with Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer on Monday. The delegation expressed their concerns over the illegal arrest of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and the subsequent developments, including alleged police highhandedness towards TDP leaders and workers. Governor Nazeer, who is currently visiting Visakhapatnam, informed the delegation that he is closely monitoring the developments in the state. He also expressed surprise at not being informed about Naidu’s arrest. Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by the state’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) on September 9 in connection with an alleged skill development scam. He was subsequently sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a Vijayawada court. On Monday, he was transferred to the Rajahmundry Central Jail. Atchannaidu reiterated that Naidu’s arrest was politically motivated and based on false charges. He questioned why the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) had not noticed the alleged corruption in the four years prior to the arrest. The TDP leader also mentioned pre-poll surveys that predict a significant number of Lok Sabha seats for the TDP in the 2024 elections, potentially increasing further if the party forms an alliance with the Jana Sena Party. Atchannaidu cited an I-PAC survey suggesting a potential defeat for the YSRCP. He criticized the ruling party for what he deemed a deliberate act of sending Naidu to jail and alleged that Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy took pleasure in forcing Naidu to travel by road for 48 hours.
