Naidu swears by secularism, NDA agenda stays

Admitting that were differences with the NDA on the Gujarat issue, Naidu told the 6,000-strong convention of party workers that the TDP had demanded Modi’s replacement in the interest of communal harmony. ‘‘Only because of our firm stand, the BJP dropped the idea of holding early polls in Gujarat,’’ he said.

The political resolution, later moved by TDP parliamentary party leader K. Yerran Naidu, strongly defended party’s demand for Modi’s ouster and its subsequent walkout from the Lok Sabha on the issue. ‘‘Though our intention is not to interfere in affairs of other states, we had demanded Modi’s resignation keeping in view the interest of the country,’’ it said.

Naidu also called for a review of Centre-State relations over funds and powers to meet exigencies arising out of the reforms process initiated by the states. The party also wanted the Centre to drop the move to amend the Constitution to facilitate direct funding of panchayati raj bodies in the interest of federalism. ‘‘States were facing severe hardship due to falling revenues from the Centre and increasing subsidy burden on account of reforms.’’

‘‘On the one hand we are supposed to go for reforms and on the other hand, the Centre is taking away our share in central taxes. This is an unfair situation and we seek more funds and powers,’’ Naidu said. Moving the resolution, former Union minister and MP B. Buli Ramaiah lamented that the Centre had not conceded any of its financial powers even after liberalisation and privatisation.