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The TDP’s backing comes despite its own uneasy history with law enforcement agencies. Party chief and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested last year in a multi-crore skill development scam case.
BJP-LED NDA’s key allies on Wednesday came out strongly in support of the three Bills which seek to remove a Union or State minister facing allegations of corruption or serious offences if they have been in custody for at least 30 days.
The Bills triggered protests from the Opposition, which warned of its potential misuse against rivals. However, the BJP’s allies — including the JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), and TDP — rallied behind the government, framing the legislation as a step towards cleaning up politics and enhancing transparency.
JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said: “Running the government from Tihar Jail — this is the Opposition’s new definition of democracy! Stay in jail for 30 days, remain a minister on the 31st — this is the Opposition’s idea of morality! The people want answers, but the Opposition wants power — this is the real clash! Calling every Bill that demands accountability ‘dictatorial’ — this is morality’s grand farce!”
LJP (Ram Vilas) national vice president A K Bajpai dismissed the Opposition’s concerns over misuse of the law.
He said: “It will apply to all. Potential misuse of law is no argument. All laws can be misused. TADA and POTA were misused. Does it mean we stop making laws? And then this Bill also includes the PM. This situation has arisen due to the episodes of Arvind Kejriwal, Satyender Jain and Hemant Soren.”
Bajpai’s remarks referred to the arrests of prominent political leaders, including former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal while he was in office, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, who resigned a day before his arrest, and former Delhi minister Satyender Jain.
The TDP also endorsed the Bills. Spokesperson JyotsnaTirunagari told The Indian Express: “From 2004 to 2014 we had seen several misdeeds in terms of corruption. From 2014 to 2024 there has been a push towards accountability and transparency. The legislation is towards this end. We think it will bring accountability and transparency into the system.”
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The TDP’s backing comes despite its own uneasy history with law enforcement agencies. Party chief and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested last year in a multi-crore skill development scam case.