While the Telugu States Chief Ministers are each sketching their ambitions to play a crucial role in National Politics, the recent meeting of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has caught everyone’s attention. In his efforts to form a non-BJP, non-Congress Front at the Centre, KCR visited Odisha CM and discussed issues pertaining to national interest.
In his meeting with Patnaik, KCR also discussed about the Polavaram project issues concerning the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. It is also believed that KCR has alerted Patnaik on how they could influence the Centre to stall Polavaram project by raising objections on the submergence threat to few areas in these states.
Soon after KCR and Patnaik’s meeting, Odisha MP Soumya Ranjan met AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at Amaravati on behalf of Naveen Patnaik. This meeting has caught the political circles by surprise. Apparently, Ranjan discussed on the Polavaram project issues concerning the state of Odisha. In the meeting, Chandrababu sought to understand how AP could solve Odisha’s problem amicably and assured his support.
Additionally, the MP also spoke about how they have not decided whether they would go with UPA or NDA. He also informed Chandrababu about KCR’s visit to Odisha and about the agenda of Telangana CM’s meeting with Naveen Patnaik. Further, Ranjan sought Chandrababu’s help to push for Women’s Reservation Bill in the Parliament and said that they will support him in his fight to get back paper ballot system in elections, replacing the EVMs. During the meeting, Soumya Ranjan said that Odisha will stand with Chandrababu in his efforts and will ensure that there are friendly relations between AP and Odisha.
One may recall that, during the times of crisis and natural calamities, Chandrababu Naidu has been one of the first leaders to reach out to Odisha and help the state. During Odisha floods in 2009, despite Chandrababu not being in power, he reached out to the state and helped them out. Even during Cyclone Hudhud, Andhra Pradesh government had helped Odisha get back to normalcy. Therefore, if one looks at the history of friendship between Naveen Patnaik and Chandrababu, it goes beyond politics. No wonder, KCR is trying to make new friends in making his dream come true!
