I want to deliver like dad did

AFTER POLLING, while every regional leader was busy exploring tie-ups in closed-door meetings, Reddy was as relaxed as a student who had finished appearing for his board exams. He went on a holiday abroad, watched Avengers: Endgame in a Hyderabad multiplex and spent time with his family. Three days before the results, he even asked his staff not to schedule any political meetings, but met THE WEEK for an exclusive interview. Dressed in his trademark white shirt and khaki trousers, he said, “Don’t be surprised if we win all 25 Lok Sabha seats.” He also said he would surprise a lot of people with his style of governance. Excerpts from an interview:

How prepared are you to lead Andhra Pradesh, which requires enormous funds for populist schemes and projects such as the building of the capital Amaravati?

Basically, anything is a challenge. Once you take up the mantle, it comes with a responsibility. In 2004, before dad (Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy) took over, the same person, Chandrababu [Naidu], was the chief minister for nine years. The state finances then were exactly the same, [as] today. In spite of that, he could produce strong governance that got him re-elected in 2009. So, as they say, history repeats itself. I am confident that, by God’s grace, we will also perform.

Regional party leaders had hectic parleys regarding post-poll alliances, but you kept away. There were also reports that you ignored calls from national leaders. What was your strategy?

I did not ignore anybody’s call and it doesn’t happen that way. There is no point in talking in detail with anybody before May 23, before we know the numbers. One should be patient and realistic. Our priority is simple and straight. Our demand is special category status, which we have been deprived of.

Your father took over after Naidu, and you will now do the same. Your family seems to have a strange political connection with Naidu.

It is very strange that this is happening. Dad fought against Chandrababu Naidu successfully and came to power. Now the same situation has once again come up. It will be very interesting to see him sit in that position (opposition). God willing, it will be a repeat of 2004, where I can deliver the same way as my father did.

There are a lot of issues to be sorted out between the two Telugu states. How do you plan to go about it?

The problem with Chandrababu Naidu and KCR (Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao) is that the trust element is lost. When you don’t have that trust between two parties, you cannot even sit down and talk. But, this time, the situation is different. We have a phenomenally good relationship with the TRS. That relationship alone would help us come together to not only sort out the differences between the two states, but also to project ourselves as one and fight for the cause of the Telugu people at the Centre.