- 21 minutes ago
In Tamil Nadu, campaigning intensifies for the upcoming by-elections in Dharapuram and Madurantakam, marking a high-stakes electoral test for Chief Minister Vijay's TVK as candidate Satyabhama faces criticism following her shift from the AIADMK. Political analyst Akshat Ram and TVK spokesperson Sathiyakumar debate allegations of political horse-trading and local anti-incumbency challenges facing the party. Meanwhile, a major controversy erupts in Telangana after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy questioned the BJP's frequent invocation of Jai Shri Ram over Har Har Mahadev. BJP leader Madhavi Latha hits back on the broadcast, accusing the Congress leader of attempting to divide Hindu traditions and ignoring state development issues. Additionally, at the India Today South Conclave in Kochi, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh spoke exclusively with Rajdeep Sardesai, defending the Election Commission of India amidst opposition demands targeting the Chief Election Commissioner over the Special Intensive Revision process.
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00:00Hello and welcome, good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.
00:03I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal joining you live from Kuchy this evening on the sidelines of the India Today South Conclave.
00:10We'll get you a highlight, a glimpse of really what went down on day two of the India Today South
00:14Conclave.
00:15But on the show this evening, our focus is on the big bipolar battle that Tawarnadu is bracing for.
00:22Two seats up for grabs, Madhulantakam as well as Dharapuram.
00:24And Chief Minister Vijay today visited Dharapuram. We'll get you details of the big bipolar fight that's taking place there
00:31and Chief Minister Vijay's big attacks on the DMK.
00:34That's our lead story. Also coming up on the show, the big controversy playing out in Telangana currently over Chief
00:41Minister Revant Reddy's comment about Lord Ram versus Lord Shiva.
00:45That Lord Ram is worshipped in the North, Lord Shiva in the South questioning the BJP constantly referring to Jai
00:51Shri Ram.
00:51We have BJP leader Madhulata joining us on this broadcast for her view on what Chief Minister Revant Reddy said.
00:58So that's lined up for you along with lots more, including an exclusive conversation with Nara Lokesh at the India
01:04Today Conclave.
01:05Let's begin, as promised, with the bipolar battle in Tamil Nadu.
01:09Dharapuram gearing up for this high-stakes fight.
01:12The TVK, of course, is fielded Satya Bama, who was the MLA there, won just months ago, resigned because she
01:17won on an AIA DMK ticket and now is contesting on a TVK symbol.
01:21So this is a big, big test for the party.
01:24The candidate is the same. The party has changed.
01:27So if it's a vote for the TVK, it will be a vote for the party, not just for the
01:31candidate.
01:32The DMK is also going all out in this particular constituency.
01:35Chief Minister Vijay was there today. Let's get you those highlights first.
01:42As October 6th draws closer, Tamil Nadu is gearing up for its first bipolar since the TVK rule began.
01:51And Chief Minister Vijay is in Dharapuram, campaigning for his party candidate Satya Bama.
02:00Coimbatore City Police have announced temporary traffic diversions on arterial roads in view of the Chief Minister's visit.
02:09But who can stop the Talapati fans?
02:12TVK workers were seen waving party flags as they welcomed Vijay.
02:16Dharapuram is a prestige battle because Satya Bama had earlier won the seat as an AIA DMK candidate.
02:27She resigned from the Assembly and joined TVK.
02:30The constituency is reserved for scheduled caste.
02:35Many are unhappy with a switch from AIA DMK to TVK switch, including TVK's own ally, the CPIM.
02:43Thank you very much.
03:18But TVK remains confident of a victory.
03:41People here are actually welcoming TVK and many people voted last time as well.
03:48Let us just give us a time and, I mean, ADMK and DMK should actually politically challenge us, right?
03:58Rather than doing such kind of a fake narrative, you can see the crowd.
04:02I don't think so that narrative is going to work today.
04:06This is a litmus test for TVK.
04:09Will its bet on a former AIA DMK MLA be welcomed by the people?
04:14Or will the party's gamble turn into a setback?
04:17With Apoorva Jai Chandran, Bureau Report, India Today.
04:22So, as we're getting closer to the bi-poll in Tamil Nadu, in both Madhurantakam as well as Dharapuram,
04:28you can see that the political war of words is heating up.
04:31But joining us on this broadcast, we've got political analyst Akshat Ram with us also, Mr. Satya Kumar, spokesperson of
04:38the TVK.
04:39I'll begin with Akshat Ram on your impression first, Akshat, of what Chief Minister Vijay said,
04:44when he suggested essentially that the DMK is a party that despite the laws continue to do everything they could
04:50to try and grab the election, grab power.
04:53He's also spoken of what happened in Kolatur.
04:58Firstly, Akshat, thank you so much for having me on your panel this evening.
05:03I don't necessarily agree with what the Chief Minister has said extensively today against the DMK
05:09about power grabbing, about what they're doing in elections,
05:12because, let's be real, this bi-election did not even have to exist.
05:16It only exists today because of a personal ambition and political host trading
05:20that the TVK has carried on very extensively against the AADMK.
05:23This same Dharapuram where the Chief Minister has spoken today,
05:27P. Satya Bama, their candidate, won with 40.56% vote with the AADMK.
05:33Yet, shortly after winning, she has decided that she is not part of the ruling government
05:37and she wants to be part of the ruling government and she says so in her speech, in fact.
05:40But the people of Dharapuram, do they agree with this?
05:44It's a big question that we need to ask because, let's be real,
05:47wherever she's gone to campaign, she's been booed away.
05:49There are multiple local issues, farmers' issues, issues with water that have been brought up against her.
05:57And this is basically them trying to manufacture a mandate because, let's be real,
06:03they are still a minority government.
06:05They need enough number of seats to be…
06:07This is surely something that's not new.
06:10You know, we've seen this with almost every single political party.
06:14The TVK may be new to the game, but they've pretty much gotten into the same political fold
06:17of what every single party does.
06:20Having said that, Mr. Satya Kumar, your response is that this bipol is necessitated
06:24because of these allegations of host trading against the TVK?
06:29Not really.
06:30See, the MLS, lawfully they resigned.
06:33And after the Representation of People Act, once they resigned, they have the liberty to go to other parties.
06:38And, Akshita, if you may note, why did they resign in the first place?
06:41They resigned because ADMK and DMK wanted to come together to form the government,
06:46which is against the ideals of the ADMK party in the first place
06:50because we all know about the history where the Purachita Lever MGR started the party opposing DMK
06:56and Jalilita Mham opposed the party until her last breath to the DMK.
07:03So, when that is the kind of the DNA of ADMK, they are coming together to form the government.
07:08They are not accepted by the MLAs who got elected from the ADMK.
07:14Okay, so they came out voluntarily and they are re-contesting from TVK.
07:19What's wrong in it?
07:20What's wrong in it?
07:21It's a lawful thing and it is not illegal.
07:24And it is their voluntary resignation.
07:26And they came here, they sought a ticket and ticket was provided.
07:29So, it's a liberty of the party also to provide a ticket.
07:31There is no agreement.
07:33I know very well, I can confirm you.
07:35There is no agreement to the candidates that the seat will be provided.
07:37Now, they get the seat because the party gave the seat to them
07:41and they are contesting the election.
07:43So, as it happens in any election process.
07:45So, here the DMK or ADMK are coming and saying that we are grabbing the power.
07:50Why should we grab the power?
07:52In some of the constituencies, we have got 68%.
07:54And in most of the rural constituencies, we have got...
07:57Because you don't have the numbers, Mr. Satya Kumar.
07:59What they constantly highlight is that you don't have the numbers.
08:03Your allies right now are, you know, on the fence on several issues.
08:08They've been publicly criticizing you on several issues.
08:10And therefore, you don't have the numbers.
08:12You need the numbers.
08:13These leaders who are willing to jump ship, join the TVK, contest.
08:17If they win, then your numbers go up.
08:18That's why you're doing it.
08:20Akshita, if you note, the numbers went up post our election itself.
08:23Because, see, share in power, share in governance.
08:25Today, Congress has got ministry in our government.
08:28And VCK has got ministry in our government.
08:30And once they get the share in power, so almost the government is stabilized.
08:34And now, adding up to these two MLA's winning the elections will add up more stability to the government.
08:39And five more constituencies we have for the elections, by-elections.
08:44And one of the constituencies where Tirichikirak, that is East, Tirichikirak, where Honorable CM contested the election.
08:51So, that is also going to be, there is going to be a by-election.
08:54So, very much we are in a very stable government.
08:57And I'm very confident for next five years, we are going to have a stable government.
09:04The reality is, though, Mr. Satya Kumar, that many of your allies have been speaking out against some of the
09:09moves made by your government.
09:10But I am going to say this, that, you know, through the entire speech of Chief Minister Vijay, not once
09:14did he make the mention of AIA-DMK.
09:17He refers to the DMK.
09:18So, I'm glad you, sir, are naming the AIA-DMK when you're speaking about what's really happening in Dharapuram.
09:23Akshat, this is part and parcel of politics.
09:25Ultimately, looking at this particular by-pol and the way it's poised, there are many analysts, many experts who suggest
09:31that this is a seat that the TVK is going to sweep, irrespective of the images that you refer to.
09:37That this is a challenge for the DMK to conquer.
09:41Akshat, I'll tell you why the TVK will possibly not sweep this election, right?
09:47Let's look at local issues first.
09:4923 TMC last year, in terms of water that has gone to the PAP farmers, this year, 8 TMC.
09:55Who is behind this?
09:56The same MLA who is now contesting against on the TVK ticket.
10:01Farmers are buying 6,000 rupees a tanker to be able to survive on, to make their coconut farm survive,
10:09right?
10:09Power cuts are constantly frequent.
10:11Even five ministers of the TVK government have had different meetings with farmers on power outrage.
10:18Still, nothing happens.
10:20Residents of the metro city in Dharapuram have threatened to boycott this election.
10:26Let's be real.
10:27There are people in the constituency who are boycotting this election.
10:33Because this candidate and her political opportunism has created a necessity for this election.
10:38And the people of Dharapuram feel, why do we have to go back and vote?
10:41But we constantly talk about the amount of money it takes to run an election in this country, right?
10:49And this by-election…
10:51You think, Akshat Ram, ultimately, ultimately, you're referring to a power cut crisis.
10:55You're referring to these issues.
10:57But it's not been enough time for anti-incumbency to step in.
10:59So, in that sense, you know, this is a masterstroke, a political masterstroke by the TVK.
11:05How is this a masterstroke when their candidate is someone that left from a party for which the people of
11:13Dharapuram have already voted?
11:14They get their numbers up without having to rely on other parties.
11:17Anti-incumbency hasn't swept in yet.
11:20So, they have that, you know, positive, that plus on their side.
11:24You have a chief minister, Vijay, campaigning there.
11:27Look at the kind of crowds that have gathered.
11:28There's nothing really that goes against the TVK here except for the sentiment that you're referring to.
11:33And is that enough for the DMK to really go up?
11:37See, the way I look at it, that this election is going to be a close call, okay?
11:41I'm not saying that the DMK has it in the hat.
11:44But I'm not also going to say that the TVK has it, right?
11:47Because let's be very real.
11:49Even if you're talking about farmer ratios, for that matter of fact, Akshita,
11:52this government promises a 100% waiver on cooperative loans.
11:56What do they eventually do?
11:57A 75,000 rupees cap on five-acre loans.
12:01So, there are multiple promises that this government has given to the people of Darapurum,
12:05to the people of Madhulantakam, to the people of Tamil Nadu, and they have not followed through on it.
12:10So, those promises and that anti-incumbency is definitely going to show in the by-election.
12:14Let's be very real.
12:16This by-election, people are upset with Ms. Satya Bama.
12:20Okay.
12:20It is, you're seeing images, you're seeing videos of people protesting against them.
12:24Last word, mister.
12:26I agree, I've seen those videos.
12:28I've seen those videos.
12:29Mr. Satya Kumar, final word to you, sir.
12:32There's been a lot of criticism, and I'm going to let you answer this once and for all.
12:35There's been a lot of questions, criticism, the AI, DMK, DMK sharing these clips of Chief Minister Vijay
12:40suggesting that the TVK and BJP are in cohoots.
12:44Is that a slip of tongue, sir?
12:45Was it intentional?
12:46Why don't you explain to us?
12:49So, I don't think, just a second, can you repeat the question, Akshita?
12:53There's some disturbance.
12:57There's a video, sir, there's a video that the AI, DMK, DMK are sharing widely suggesting
13:01that Chief Minister Vijay has referred to a DVK-BJP alliance.
13:08Never, never it is possible.
13:10Have you seen the video?
13:13I've not seen the video, but if that video could be an AI video also,
13:17I'll just check it, because I'm cautious, because I'm not seen it.
13:20Okay?
13:21Two things, never, ever you will say that combination, because of a single fact that
13:28our political enemy and ideological enemy, we have identified already.
13:33Considering that fact, we are not in a habit of changing our words,
13:37and we don't speak in those languages, and accordingly,
13:40these are all conspiracies created by DMK and ADMK surrounding the election.
13:44No, I don't think that should be taken as an official video, is my point of view.
13:52Okay, all right.
13:53It seemed to be a slip of tongue, but Mr. Satya Kumar, you have also spoken on that.
13:57Thank you for joining us, Mr. Satya Kumar and Akshat Ram.
14:00We're days away from their bipolar and Dharapuram and Madhuranthakam.
14:03Will this be a close battle, or will the TVK manage to, will they have this in the bag?
14:08Well, they're counting on it, because they need their numbers to go up,
14:10and therefore not be as reliant as they are on other parties, on allies, for support to stay in power.
14:17We're going to track very closely that big political fight.
14:20Thanks once again for joining us.
14:23A big political flashpoint is playing out in Telangana right now over Chief Minister Revant Reddy's comments,
14:29where he said that BJP leaders constantly chant Jai Shri Ram, they never chant Hadhar Mahadev,
14:35suggesting that Lord Ram is worshipped in the north, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the south.
14:39This divide within a religion has sparked a furious political fight,
14:44with BJP leaders, one after another, lashing out at Chief Minister Revant Reddy.
14:48What's been the BJP's counter?
14:51How has the Congress responded to this criticism?
14:53Let's get you a detailed report first.
15:00Two religious slogans have now become the latest flashpoint in the BJP Congress battle.
15:11After Telangana Chief Minister Revant Reddy questioned the BJP's repeated use of Jai Shri Ram,
15:17asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders do not similarly invoke Har Har Mahadev.
15:27We are from Dravidians, from Aryans, the priests of the Guru and the priests of the Sri Ram,
15:33so Ram kept speaking to the BJP's.
15:36How did you find the BJP?
15:40It's an emotion, it is a sentiment.
15:44It is a sentiment.
15:44Why do you not say that?
15:47Modi ji!
15:48Jay Shri Ram said that once again.
15:49Of the agrarians, the son of Shine is Shri,
15:51of the ameeryy on the son of Ram Ji.
15:56The BJP has hit back, accusing the Congress of trying to create a divide among Hindus
16:01by pitching Lord Ram against Lord Shiva.
16:17And the attack gets sharper.
16:20The BJP has alleged that the Congress is displaying a Muslim League mindset,
16:25accusing it of turning Hindu religious identities into a political fault line.
16:52But the BJP's counter goes beyond slogans.
16:56The party has invoked Shiv Shakti Point, the name given to the Chandrayaan 3 landing site,
17:02arguing that Lord Shiva has also been invoked by the Modi government
17:06in the context of India's scientific achievement and national pride.
17:11Then comes the Varanasi Connect.
17:14Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents Shiv Nagari Varanasi
17:17and his repeated visits to Jyotir Lingas.
17:24And then the BJP throws down another challenge.
17:27Where is Rahul Gandhi's Har Har Mahadev video?
17:30Thank you very much.
18:00But here's the other side of the picture.
18:02Rahul Gandhi has himself visited several prominent Jotir Langas in recent years,
18:07including Mahakaleshwar, Om Kareswar and Kedarnath.
18:14So the slogans may be religious, but the battle over them is unmistakably political.
18:20With Abdul Bashir in Hyderabad, Bureau Report, India Today.
18:33Joining us on this broadcast now is BJP leader in Telangana, Madhvi Lata,
18:38who's joining us to speak on her view of what Chief Minister Revant Reddy has said.
18:44Ma'am, thank you very much for joining us. Thank you for your time.
18:47Your view first of Chief Minister Revant Reddy's comment about Lord Ram and Lord Shiva.
19:03This is the Chamakam of the Rudra, Namaka Chamakam, which is part of the Vedas,
19:09which tells that when you pray Shiva, you get wealth, you get prosperity, you get power, you get everything.
19:18So I am surprised that this half-baked, half-knowledged people like Revant Reddy,
19:24unfortunately our beloved Chief Minister, elected by the most powerful democracy,
19:30they have never tried to understand the wealth of this land.
19:35Bharat is a land of the great Sanatana Dharma, a culture, a civilization by itself.
19:43No God here is depicted as rich, no God here is depicted as poor.
19:50Especially Shiva tells us the final fact that whoever you are in your life, whatever life you may lead,
19:58ultimately the truth is death and you turn into ashes.
20:04That doesn't mean that he is poor because in Madurai,
20:08he is prayed in the form of devotees, Sundareswara, a God with fully dressed up with gold and jewelries and
20:19ornaments.
20:20He comes like the most richest Mahamaharaja, emperor, to marry Parvati Devi.
20:26At the same time, whoever prays Vishnu, it's very clear that he puts them into a Maya
20:34and ensures that they get all kind of difficulties to learn the life.
20:42Unfortunately today, the most Sanatana Dharma land Telangana is being ruled by such people
20:49who have more interest on bringing up splits, not just between the religions,
20:56also within one dharma.
20:58One friend, he says, Pakistanis ours and we are Pakistanis.
21:02One day he says that, you know, like, we have done extraordinary work for Muslims.
21:08One day he goes to Tirupati, Venkateshwar, Balaji,
21:12with the form of Vishnu and asks for prosperity.
21:17And one day he says that, we all belong to Shiva.
21:21Does he have stability of mind? I doubt.
21:27No, no. So, Madhavi Ilata Garu, you know, the question that will come up here is whether
21:31the overarching point that Chief Minister Revant Reddy was trying to make
21:35is that Lord Ram has been used for political gains by the BJP.
21:39That God has been politicized by the BJP.
21:43Then what do you have to call about Kashi Vishwanath Corridor?
21:49Who is he?
21:51Is he a very special God named by Revant Reddy?
21:54Is he not Harhar Mahadev?
21:58I am surprised.
22:01Even all the way below till Rameshwaram.
22:03No, sure, sure.
22:04Modiji has been there.
22:06Modiji has been even to Rameshwaram.
22:09He's been there.
22:10Modiji has been there.
22:12No, what the Telangana Chief Minister says is that in most of the rallies,
22:16most of the campaigns, you will constantly hear Jai Shriram.
22:19You hear that slogan more than any other slogan.
22:22And so is that slogan being politicized, being used for political gains.
22:28Then probably he's not watching all other videos of Modiji,
22:33where he has also put Bhasm, where he has also used Damarukam,
22:37where he has also used Trishul,
22:38where he has gone across only speaking and talking and, you know,
22:43taking, you know, slogans of Harhar Mahadev.
22:45Probably then he should also know that he has been speaking about Allah also
22:50and his 99 great names.
22:52What is Revant Reddy doing today?
22:54Is he not worried about the unemployment in Telangana?
22:58Is he not worried about the stipends not being given to students?
23:02Is he not worried about the women and the downtroddenness among them?
23:06Is he not worried about the government schools,
23:09which are getting, you know, worse day by day?
23:13Why? What does it matter to him?
23:15Is he sitting and just counting Shriram, Shriram, Shriram slogans
23:19told how many times by BJP people?
23:22Or he has been elected to think about the Telangana government
23:26for what he has been elected?
23:28Just let him take care of his job.
23:31Sure, ma'am.
23:32So the criticism that you've raised about him creating that divide,
23:35of him creating, my final question to use this, ma'am,
23:37you've accused him of creating a divide within a religion, within Hinduism.
23:41Now the Congress says, one, what I mentioned to you about the fact
23:45that they believe Lord Ram is being politicized, owned by BJP,
23:48and that's what they're trying to reverse.
23:49The other one they're constantly referring to is that Chief Minister Devant Reddy himself
23:53is extremely religious.
23:55He's extremely religious, that he is a staunch human himself.
23:57Who is extremely religious?
23:58Who is extremely religious?
24:02Who is extremely religious?
24:04The Congress says Chief Minister Devant Reddy is.
24:07Oh, then you do not know the kind of comments he passes in Telugu.
24:11Then let me please introduce to you.
24:13One day he told, there will be a God who has two wives.
24:17People go there.
24:18That is Tirupati Venkatesa Swami.
24:20That's how he insulted him.
24:21And it doesn't matter to God.
24:23Then he says there are people who drink alcohol and go to one more goddess.
24:28That is the Gram Devata that we have in Jubilee Hills.
24:31Then one day he says, people, you know, do not even have to get married and go behind a monkey.
24:38You people first have to learn the translations of his Telugu.
24:42What all he craps.
24:43He talks about the gods and goddesses of Sanatana Dharma.
24:47See, I am telling you, he is there to butter Rahul Feroz, Sonia Feroz.
24:52He only knows how to butter Delhi.
24:55He has no other work to do.
24:58There is no development at all in Telangana till date.
25:02Things have become worse and worse.
25:04In that case, tell me, why did he demolish 120-year-old Gram Devata Temple in Banjara Hills?
25:13Where I myself stood in the entire agitation.
25:16I was a home arrest, house arrested a couple of times for that.
25:20Why?
25:21Because that land has phenomenal market value.
25:24And they want to eat that land.
25:27What do you all know about Revant Reddy?
25:29Which religious Revant Reddy are talking about?
25:32Then why did he go to Badrachalam and put the three strikes on his face?
25:36What happened to Badrachalam?
25:39Okay, now I will come back to even Shivala.
25:43This is how Congress has been working right from the day of freedom that we have got.
25:50They only want to derail and they would want to misguide the public.
25:58But it is high time.
26:01It is high time.
26:02This is the same Congress which has brought Waqf also.
26:06And made Pasamanda Muslims get deteriorated day by day.
26:11They are neither good for Hindus, nor they are good for Muslims, nor for any Christian.
26:15They just are opportunist.
26:19They only know how to divide, divide, divide, divide, divide, divide and make those thrones for themselves.
26:30Okay, Madhavi Lata, you are saying that this is another attempt to divide by the Congress, by Chief Minister Revant
26:35Reddy.
26:36But, you know, one point I will highlight here.
26:38What you refer to about the development of Telangana.
26:40I agree that away from this kind of politics, that should be the focus.
26:43The spotlight should be on what steps are being taken for the betterment of Telangana.
26:47Thank you very much, Madhavi Lata.
26:50I agree with you on that.
26:51Thank you very much for joining us.
27:20Thank you, Madhavi Lata.
27:22Listen in to Nara Lokesh.
27:35Hello and welcome once again, ladies and gentlemen, to the India Today South Conclave here in the lovely city of
27:42Kochi.
27:43Where we are joined by a very special guest, someone who represents the gen next of leaders in this country.
27:51His father is the senior most chief minister that India has at the moment.
27:56And he is seen as the face of the future.
27:59Please welcome the Telugu Desam leader, Nara Lokesh, Minister for HRD, IT, Electronics and Communications and Real-Time Governance.
28:08Good to have you, Lokesh, on the show.
28:11I want to start by two hot-button topics which are resonating nationally, not just in Andhra Pradesh but across
28:17the country.
28:18The first is the election commission.
28:21Where does the TDP stand?
28:23Because immediately after, when this entire election commission issue blew up, your leader of the Lok Sabha, who is probably
28:32here, said that the EC should clarify in the interest of transparency.
28:38Now, it seems all is well. The TDP seems to have suddenly no problem with the EC. Where does the
28:45TDP stand?
28:47Do you believe that Gyanesh Kumar ji should step down as the rest of the opposition is demanding?
28:54Thank you very much for having me in the session and I love the first question.
28:58It is a hot topic.
29:01I believe that there is responsibility on the people also who are questioning the system.
29:06Now, you see a lot of political parties also questioning regarding SAR.
29:11As a political party, Telugu the SM party has always sought clarifications on various subjects related to SAR, in opposition
29:21even when we are in power.
29:23In fact, as recently, as about a year back, we sought a lot of clarification because we also went through
29:28our own SAR process.
29:29So, is the system perfect? Absolutely not.
29:32There are areas of improvement like any system is.
29:35But there is the intent there to make it better, to resolve the issues that need resolution, that is in
29:41place.
29:42So, as a party, we've seen the letter that the election commissioners put out. We believe that is in order.
29:48So, you don't agree with the Rahul Gandhi view that the EC is working at the behest of the BJP
29:53or the NDA leadership that Gyanesh Kumar ji has been put there as a hatchet man to ensure that every
30:02election is won by the BJP according to him, irrespective of anti-incumbency?
30:06Well, he won elections in Kerala, Karnataka, Talangana. So, how can you... So, there, there's no role of SIR. If
30:16you lose, there's a role of SIR.
30:19I mean, where is your organization to even look at votes? Where votes are getting added? Have you done any
30:24homework? Where is your boot level organization? In absent of it, you're blaming the election commission?
30:29Your father Chandra Babu Naidu ji was in alliance with the Congress in 2019. There is a tweet of him
30:34which still stands where he said that the EC is destroying democracy along with the BJP.
30:40Now, today, you are coming out in defense of the EC and the BJP. It seems in Indian politics, where
30:45you stand depends on where you sit.
30:47In our case, we believe based on facts and data. Our belief system is quite clear. And as a political...
30:54Facts could not have been different location 2019 to 2026.
30:57No, but we continue to fight. Who said we don't? We have expressed our opinions. We have gone to election
31:02commission multiple times.
31:04We have stated that, you know, SIR should be done in a certain way. We have our opinion at the
31:08table. We continue to, continue to voice our opinion.
31:11So, I want to understand. What is the TDP's role? Are you a constructive critic within the government?
31:17What is the TDP's stand within the NDA? Are you completely committed to the BJP and Narendra Modi ji?
31:23We are an ally of NDA. We have an opinion on a subject. We will voice it within the four
31:29walls. And similarly, the Wakaf bill went to JPC. We gave our input. In various other matters, we have given
31:36our input. And we will continue to do it. We will continue to play a role in the NDA government.
31:41We will continue to give our feedback to the government.
31:44So, you are very clear that when the opposition calls for the impeachment of the CEC, when the opposition starts,
31:50says that they are going to have a jail-bharu-andolan or street-wide protest, TDP will stand firmly by
31:57the Narendra Modi government on this issue.
32:00You don't see that the BJP has tried to game the system or fix the system to ensure that they
32:05win elections.
32:06If they gamed and fixed the system, then why did they lose Kerala?
32:09Because the BJP is not a major force in Kerala.
32:13The BJP, you could argue that Congress and the BRS were the top two forces.
32:17Can you say that? If you look at it in the Parliament elections, majority of the MP seats were won
32:22by BJP. Same thing in Kerala.
32:25So, see, it's very, it's political convenience to blame. But then, do you have an institutional framework in the field
32:31to ensure that the voting is mapped?
32:34It's not there for Congress. It's easy to blame when you lose on election commission. When you win, you can
32:39say that there are various other reasons that you won an election on.
32:41In many ways, I don't know where you qualify. You're 43. You're a millennial.
32:46But I want to understand, where do you stand on this Gen Z and the angst of a younger India,
32:54which seems, after particularly the rise of the Cockroach Janata Party, to be railing against the system?
33:00They become anti-establishment. Do you believe Gen Z has a genuine reason to be angry?
33:07Fundamentally, I believe that we are seeing a new movement in India where it has nothing to do with caste,
33:13religion or region.
33:14It has to do with the demographic, where there is a set of youngsters who believe that the system has
33:19to be transformed.
33:21I believe that are there areas to improve? Absolutely. Even in our own government, I believe that there are multiple
33:27areas that we can do better.
33:29So what really excites me is that now we've identified the problems. We understand where we stand. As youngsters, all
33:36of us can come together and find solutions to those problems.
33:39We understand the problems.
33:39We understand the problems.
33:39We understand the problems.
33:39We understand the problems.