As Chandrababu Naidu walks out of jail on bail, TDP cadres burst into celebrations

The TDP believes that the AP government, headed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, acted out of spite by arresting Naidu on 9 September in Nandyal on trumped-up charges that he was responsible for the ₹371 crore skill development scam when he was the chief minister of the state.

దారిపొడుగునా వెల్లువెత్తిన ప్రజాభిమానం. ప్రజలు వేలాదిగా రోడ్ల పైకి వచ్చి చంద్రబాబు గారికి సంఘీభావం తెలుపుతుండడంతో… ఆయన కాన్వాయ్ జైలు నుంచి బయలుదేరి 2 గంటలైనా ఇంకా రాజమండ్రి దాటలేదు. న్యాయస్థానం ఉత్తర్వులకు లోబడి కారు లోపల నుండే ప్రజలకు నమస్కరిస్తూ వెళ్తున్నారు చంద్రబాబు.… pic.twitter.com/8ykoWy3Qa2

— Telugu Desam Party (@JaiTDP) October 31, 2023

Related: Embattled TDP chief Naidu gets bail for 4 weeks on health grounds

Celebratory mood

As Naidu emerged from the prison at about 4.30 pm after 52 days of incarceration, TDP workers set off crackers and distributed sweets among themselves at several places in AP and also at NTR Bhavan in Hyderabad.

They also celebrated the occasion at the party’s central office in Mangalagiri in the erstwhile Guntur district.

After his release from jail, Naidu, speaking to reporters, expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for showing solidarity with him.

“You stood by me when I was going through an ordeal. I did not commit any crime. I am innocent. You came out onto the roads. You prayed for me and offered poojas at temples. I am really indebted to those who had stood by me not only in AP but also in the country and abroad. My special thanks to Pawan Kalyan,” he said.

He then left for his Undavalli residence near Vijayawada.

The TDP’s AP president K Achen Naidu said after the party chief’s release from prison: “It is painful to see that Naidu, who is innocent, was shut away in a prison for 52 days. Now that he is out, we will bury the YSRCP for good.”

TDP Rajya Sabha member and lawyer Kanankamedala Ravindrakumar said: “The CID could not establish the money trail in skill development scam. When the court had asked the prosecution whether money changed hands in the case, it had no ready answer. It said it would consult the government and get back to the court.”

Also read: TDP chooses not to contest Telangana Assembly elections

BJP, Jana Sena react

The BJP and the Jana Sena also welcomed the development.

Said Pawan Kalyan: “I wish that Naidu regains his health as soon as possible and rededicates himself to the service of the people.”

Andhra Pradesh BJP president D Purandeswari said: “We have condemned Naidu’s arrest from the beginning. His arrest was illegal as no notice was served on him. He was arrested despite his name not figuring in the FIR.”

The first reaction from the cadres was that it would now be the turn of the TDP to go after the YSRCP, which was indicative of the degree of hatred brewing in the hearts of the party workers against Jagan.

Also read: YSRCP leaders openly threatening to eliminate Naidu, says Lokesh

What lies ahead for Naidu?

The court, while issuing the interim bail orders, said: “This court is inclined to direct the respondents/petitioners not to participate in political rallies and give any press interviews including both print and digital media or make any public comments in connection with this case until the disposal of this petition. The additional bail conditions were imposed by the court after an application to this effect was moved by the CID.”

Though the interim bail is only for four weeks, during which time Naidu is expected to undergo his eye surgery, the party workers appear to believe that Naidu is out of the woods and are expecting him to guide the party through choppy waters.

The statements of the party leaders indicate that it would be back in the reckoning and would be in a position to script strategies to deal with the YSRCP government in an appropriate manner.

As Naidu is barred from addressing rallies or holding press conferences, it is likely that he might discuss the party programmes to be taken up with party leaders at informal meetings.

It is not clear if his wife Nara Bhuvaneswari, who is on the Nijam Gelavali tour, would continue it in view of the changed situation.

She has already completed the first phase of her tour, which began on 25 October, and is scheduled to kick off the second phase in North Andhra on Wednesday, 1 November.

It also remains to be seen if Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh resumes his Yuva Galam padayatra, which he suspended in the East Godavari district the day the TDP chief was arrested.