Naidu does volte-face, turns champion of Maoists

10 Jan 2009, 0514 hrs IST, TNN



TIRUPATI: In his bid to return to power, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu is even ready to woo the Maoists, his arch enemies.


Addressing media persons in Tirupati on Friday, Naidu said he would examine the socio-economic policies of the Maoists for implementation if voted to power. Turning into a defender of their cause, the TDP chief said the Congress government had `brutally eliminated' several Maoists in the name of peace talks.
"After all, they are also thinking about justice to all sections of people. What is wrong in that ? When we come back to power, we will definitely explore the socio-economic policies of the Maoists", he said.

When asked whether he would also invite them to be part of the government on the lines of Nepal, he said: "I merely stated that we will work out the feasibility of their policies. The Nepal context does not rise here", he added.

Naidu expressed confidence that the `Maha Kutami' would sweep the polls as there was a severe anti-incumbency wave against the government. On the PRP, he said the party was nowhere in the political reckoning.

When asked whether the people may give a chance to the new entrant PRP this time, he said, "the people have already committed a grave mistake by voting the Congress to power. They won't take another wrong step by voting in a new party which has no political experience".