When N. Chandrababu Naidu became the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo, minorities in Andhra Pradesh had found a new messiah. They believed here was a man who would look after their interests and will not neglect the Muslims like his predecessors.

But within two years (1996-1998), Muslims in Andhra Pradesh have become a disgruntled and disillusioned community. And the last straw was Naidu's decision to go with the BJP after the 1998 elections. Today, Naidu has lost the faith of the Muslims and there is trouble in his own party where the minority leaders are openly revolting against his leadership ...

Before the 1996 parliamentary polls, Naidu told the Muslims in a meeting: "Treat me as your brother, we are one". And to drive his message home, he even launched a policy for the advancement of the minorities in Andhra Pradesh. And just before the polls, in order to appease the Muslims, Naidu provided them with several important positions - vice-presidentship of the TDP, a Rajya Sabha seat, a Cabinet post and a Vice-Chancellorship. This was a calculated move and it paid off in the polls.

During the 1998 general elections, Naidu promised the Muslim community that he would give Rs.5 crore to the Wakf Board for repairing the dilapidated mosques in the state. A Cabinet sub-committee was also formed to consider the 26-point raised by a Muslim delegation ..The Puttuswamy Commission looking into the backward classes categorisation was asked to include Muslims as a backward class ...

The Muslims constitute nearly 8.6 per cent of the population in Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 60 lakh Muslims hold the balance of power in almost 100 Assembly segments and 12 Lok Sabha seats. And the strength of the Muslims is most visible in the Telengana and Rayalaseema region of the state.

This time round, the Muslim voters in Telengana numbering around 22 lakhs were instrumental in returning nine TDP candidates to the Lok Sabha ... The Muslim population in Rayalaseema is around 14 lakhs and in coastal AP about 12 lakhs. While Muslim voters of Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra voted moderately for the TDP, it was the minority voters of the Telengana that ensured TDP's success this time.

Muslim leaders had campaigned very hard in Telengana and Rayalaseema region to ensure victory for the TDP candidates. But all that now seems to have gone in vain. The Muslims feel dejected and believe that Naidu had let them down ...  (Source: The Sunday, 19-25 April, 1998)