Chandrababu Naidu, potential kingmaker, dials Modi and Shah

Telugu Desam Party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu today called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah and congratulated them on the NDA winning majority in the Lok Sabha.

The PM and Shah also congratulated Naidu on the NDA’s victory in Andhra Pradesh, a statement from the TDP said. The TDP-led alliance, comprising the Janasena Party and the BJP, is leading in 132 of the 175 assembly seats and 21 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has meanwhile sought an appointment with the Governor at 4 pm to submit his resignation, sources said.

The performance put up by Naidu’s party in the Lok Sabha elections will make him an important player nationally, at a time when the BJP looks unlikely to cross the majority mark by itself.

He is also set to return as chief minister months after he was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh CID in connection with an alleged scam in the AP Skill Development Corporation during his last tenure.

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