We are suffering the pangs of bifurcation

N Chandrababu Naidu has got less than two years left in his second spell as chief minister. Governing a smaller state and building its new capital, Amaravati, from scratch have not been easy for him. With his bargaining power significantly diminished, he is forced these days to manage with whatever he gets. Naidu had to accept a ‘special package’ for his state instead of the special category status he had asked for.

The opposition, including the Congress and the YSR Congress, is keeping Naidu on his toes. The Congress, which has been in complete disarray, is showing signs of recovery. Making things even more uncomfortable for the chief minister is the emergence of the maverick leader Pawan Kalyan. Younger brother of Telugu superstar and MP Chiranjeevi, Kalyan leads a political party called the Jana Sena although his brother is a Congress leader. Being an actor, Kalyan knows how to work the crowd, and he loves to rake up forgotten issues, like the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the Uddanam region in Srikakulam district. Last month, he brought a team of experts from Harvard University to study the issue. While Kalyan may not be a serious political threat, it will be a folly to underestimate him. He belongs to the influential Kapu community, which accounts for 27 per cent of the state’s population. The Kapus are not happy with Naidu because he has not kept his promise of including them in the list of backward communities.

Moreover, the Telugu Desam Party is not a major force in the northern coastal districts like Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam, which have tradionally been Congress strongholds. The byelection in Nandyal in Kurnool district, scheduled on August 23, will probably reveal which way the wind is blowing. In an exclusive interview, Naidu told THE WEEK about the challenges he is facing and his plans to overcome them. Excerpts:

Will you go with the BJP in 2019?

I am supporting the BJP in all issues. We are expecting the party’s support.

Your ability to get projects and funds from the Centre seems to have diminished.

It is a different situation. Earlier it was an existing state and it was easier to get what we wanted. The process was also easier. Now we are in a peculiar position. We are suffering the pangs of bifurcation. There are constraints and it will take years to stabilise.

The TDP manifesto had 600 promises. How many of these promises have been fulfilled?

We have done more than what we promised. In my 40-year career as a politician, this is the first time I am feeling satisfied. We have reduced power deficiency, built infrastructure in all villages and installed LED street lights. We are giving pensions and 5kg rice. We are giving Rs 10 lakh to brilliant students to study abroad. We have completed most irrigation projects. We will complete Polavaram [a multipurpose irrigation project that has been accorded national project status] soon. We are on the right track.

The Nandyal byelection looks like an uphill task.

In my first term as chief minster, my focus was on law and order, factionalism, extremism, communalism and rowdyism. Then the Congress came to power for ten years and spoilt the culture. They created and exploited factions. Their focus was never on development. But this time the focus is on development and welfare and even feudal leaders want that. We have a bad opposition party. It has an immature leader involved in corruption. He cannot escape [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s principle of eradicating corruption. I support Modi on practically all issues.

The YSR Congress has appointed Prashant Kishor to help Jaganmohan Reddy.

How can you take support from an outsider? It shows rank inefficiency.

Pawan Kalyan could take away the votes of the Kapu community.

The people are wise. When the bifurcation happened, they chose me because they believed that I could solve the problems. All people are with me.

A survey shows that the YSR Congress is gaining ground.

These are all fabricated surveys. We stand number one in all parameters, like attracting business and the ease of doing business. I am not bothered about any survey.

Your MLA from Visakhapatnam has threatened to quit if you do not include the Kapus in the list of backward communities.

It is because of his confidence in my leadership that he made that comment. He knows that I fulfil all my promises. We have allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the Kapu Corporation. We have constituted a committee which will be submitting a report soon. All these leaders who are now talking big were once in power. Their fathers, too, were in politics and they did not do anything for the Kapus. And when we make an effort, they want to hold dharnas and padayatras!

Are your ministers losing their importance because you lead all the programmes?

I will not comment on that statement.

You were quoted as saying that those who do not vote for the TDP should feel ashamed.

What is wrong with that? People must bless the government because it is working hard. They must reelect us to do better things. People should remember what I have done.

How are your relations with Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao?

I have to sort out a few problems and need to go to court for justice. Personally, I would like to concentrate on governance.

How will you prove to the people that they will get a beautiful capital city, considering you have so little time left?

I want to build a city which people will remember. I have managed to get 35,000 acres voluntarily. I will develop the city with different technologies. I will be remembered forever.

Meanwhile, we are developing 16 other municipalities. As far as jobs are concerned, it is a continuous process and many sectors are coming up, including automobiles, apparel, aerospace and agriculture. We have to attract young people to these jobs. We are giving people the best ecosystem for manufacturing. In skill development, we have to bring in partners and we are planning it in a big way. Currently our growth rate is 15 per cent. We are stabilising and we are confident.