By C Subrahmanyam
Chandrababu Naidu’s recent arrest has sparked a lot of debate and speculation in the political and public spheres. Some of the possible factors that may have influenced his decision to face legal action head-on are:
One reason could be that he wanted to project himself as a victim of political vendetta and gain sympathy from the public. By getting arrested, he could portray himself as a leader who is being targeted by the ruling party for his opposition and criticism.
He could also use this opportunity to mobilize his party workers and supporters and create a wave of protest against the government. This could help him in reviving his political fortunes and challenging the popularity of the current Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Another reason could be that he was confident of getting bail from the court and did not want to appear as if he was afraid of facing the law. He could have hoped that the court would grant him bail on the grounds of his age, health, and reputation. He could have also expected that the CID would not have enough evidence to prove his involvement in the scam and that the case would eventually be dismissed.
A third reason could be that he was unaware of the seriousness of the charges against him and did not anticipate that the AP CID would arrest him so soon. He could have underestimated the determination of the AP CID to pursue the case and the extent of the evidence they had collected. He could have also overestimated his own influence and connections in the judiciary and the bureaucracy.
Another possible reason is that he was confident that the High Court would quash the case of AP CID, as he believed that he had not committed any wrongdoing or corruption in the Skill Development Corporation project. He may have trusted his legal team to present a strong defence and prove his innocence in the court. He may have also relied on his political clout and influence to secure a favourable verdict from the judiciary.
However, these reasons may not have been well-advised or well-timed, as the High Court has reserved its judgement on Chandrababu Naidu’s petition to quash the FIR, and the judgement is expected to be pronounced within two or three days’ time.
The High Court may not accept Chandrababu Naidu’s arguments and may uphold the CID’s case, which could lead to further legal troubles and complications for the former chief minister. Moreover, Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest may not have generated the desired public support or sympathy, as the Skill Development Scam is a serious allegation that involves the misuse of public funds meant for training unemployed youth in the state.
Therefore, it is possible that Naidu’s legal team has not advised him properly and not acted in time to prevent his arrest or seek anticipatory bail. They may have underestimated the gravity of the case or the evidence against him, or they may have overestimated his political stature or the public sentiment.
They may have also failed to anticipate the moves of the CID or to devise a better legal strategy or contingency plan. Alternatively, they may have advised him correctly, but he may have ignored or rejected their advice, and decided to take his own course of action.
In conclusion, to put it simply, Chandrababu Naidu either did not get good legal advice or did not listen to it. The case was serious, the proof was strong and his political clout was weak. However, the ultimate outcome of his arrest and the impact it will have on the political scenario of Andhra Pradesh remains to be seen.
