Hyderabad/Amaravati: When US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka arrived in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu - the man credited with putting the city on global map - was busy receiving fellow Andhraite and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu at new capital Amaravati.
The Vice President was there to inaugurate a private technology institute and CM Naidu was hosting him.
The absence of Naidu, who was known as the CEO of AP, at the much hyped Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) did not go unnoticed. Rumours and gossip started flying that Naidu was not even invited to the mega event. Naidu had tried his best to get the event to AP, but lost the battle to his former capital.
Even though Naidu’s TDP is a part of the PM Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, he no longer has the clout he used to enjoy during NDA 1 and 2. The bifurcation of AP and the rise of Modi–Shah combine have diminished his influence at national level.
When News18 contacted his office for a clarification on the invitation, his secretary Prasad said the chief minister was busy with the Assembly session and had no time to leave AP.
“He is too busy. Several bills are pending in the Assembly and he is trying to get them passed smoothly. The Vice-President was also here. It is incorrect to say that he declined the invitation or was not invited,” he said.
A top leader in the Telangana government run by his friend-turned-foe-turned-friend K Chandrasekhara Rao said that invitation was sent by the NITI Ayog and Telangana government was not in a position to comment on it.
Ivanka or no Ivanka, VP Venkaiah Naidu made a reference to one of America’s most influential modern inventions, Google, at his Amaravati function. He said “Unlike the ancient guru-shishya parampara wherein guru was a venerated person, the current age students get information they want at the click of a mouse. Google search may be very informative but it can never be a substitute to your guru.”
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