Modi is a campaign PM, BJP govt in 2019 a distant dream: Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said today that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a "campaign PM...who has failed to deliver on promises" and the BJP would "definitely" not remain in power after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Naidu said the Congress too won't be able to form the next government on its own and stressed that regional parties have "able and capable leaders" who will play important roles after the polls.

His remarks came a few days after he shared stage with the leaders of several regional parties at the swearing-in of H D Kumaraswamy as chief minister of the Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka after a bitterly-fought election that threw up a hung verdict.

Inaugurating Mahanadu, the TDP's annual conclave in Vijayawada, the Telugu Desam Party chief said his party has played important roles in forming governments in the past and had the power to change the narrative in the country, hinting that it could tie-up with like-minded parties to stop the BJP.

Andhra special status: CM Naidu to protest by fasting on his birthday today

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will observe a day-long fast here on Friday to demand Special Category Status (SCS) to the state.

It is notable that Friday is also Naidu's birthday. Naidu will sit on hunger strike at Indira Gandhi Stadium from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm to pressurise the Centre to grant the SCS to Andhra Pradesh.

The hunger strike will be called 'Dharma Porata Deeksha' or 'Fight for Justice'.

The strategy for the hunger strike was finalised by the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Naidu, on Monday.

Thirteen ministers of Naidu's cabinet will also organise simultaneous hunger strikes in the districts for which they are in-charge ministers. Remaining ministers will take part in the hunger strike along with the Chief Minister.

Chandrababu Naidu's TDP exits Modi govt but not NDA: Top 10 developments

Andhra Pradesh's ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by N Chandrababu Naidu, on Thursday pulled out of the Narendra Modi government, with two of its minister in the Union Cabinet tendering their resignations. TDP’s exit from the Narendra Modi-led central government came as a result of the Centre’s refusal to grant Andhra Pradesh a special-category status.

However, a split within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre was averted for now, with the party deciding to remain in the alliance, a move many view as TDP’s attempt to keep the window for rapprochement open.

Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences Y S Chowdary, the two TDP ministers in the Modi government, met the prime minister on Thursday evening and tendered their letters of resignation. However, as of the time this report was filed, there had been no official word on whether the resignation letters were forwarded to President Ram Nath Kovind for acceptance. This has also set off speculations that back-channel talks could still be taking place to iron out differences.