Do not worry about future PM, AP CM tells Modi

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to worry about who the next prime minister will be. He was reacting to the phrases used by the latter such as 'Kaun Banega Pradhan Mantri' and 'tearing clothes' in various election rallies.

Addressing a press conference here, Naidu said he was pained to see the levels to which a PM could stoop while campaigning. "I am not in race but we (the opposition) will sit and decide on a suitable candidate after the results are declared," Naidu said.

"In Muzaffarpur meeting, a frustrated PM jokes saying that opposition leaders eager to occupy the PM's seat are getting new garments ready. We (opposition) are poor and wear simple dresses; we are not like him (PM) who maintains strict dress code — a dress for breakfast, a dress for dinner and many others for each meeting," Naidu quipped. The change Modi spoke about was evident only in his dressing, not in the Indian economy, the CM said.

"PM has violated the EC poll code hundreds of times. He belittles opposition leaders saying that leaders of the SP, BSP and RLD will tear each other’s clothes once results of the Lok Sabha polls are out on May 23. The fact is that Modi cannot tolerate constructive criticism by the opposition," Naidu said. Unfortunately the stature of the PM's post was lost during Modi regime, Naidu added.

'CMs made to beg'

Naidu took a serious note of the Chief Secretary of AP Government restricting officials to attend review meetings meant to prepare for dealing with Fani cyclone in AP. Criticising the Election Commission, he said the Odisha CM had to literally beg the EC to allow him to work. He said he didn't receive a reply from the EC to his letter that requested the EC to allow him to work on routine issues like natural disasters.