We love each other, Rahul Gandhi, Chandrababu Naidu Say to NDTV: Transcript

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Telugu Party Leader Desam Chandrababu Naidu campaign together in Telangana after 37 years of political rivalry. S addressing NDTV in an exclusive interview, Rahul Gandhi said: "We are not adversaries … chemistry is very good" and there is a lot to do together. Chandrababu Naidu said it was incumbent on all political parties to unite to fight the BJP and win the elections.

Here is the complete transcript of the interview:

Rahul Gandhi: We are not adversaries. We work together and we work together because the prime minister, the BJP, threatens the country. Every institution in this nation is threatened and we defend the institutional structure of this nation and the future of this nation.

Rahul Gandhi: We are not adversaries. We have a lot in common and we work together and we have a lot of fun.

Question: TDP is a partner of RSS and BJP, does this worry you? Does this worry you that the Congress Party was formed because of its opposition to the Congress Party

Chandrababu Naidu: We are very clear, the nation is very very important. It's our responsibility – Telegu Desam, the party of Congress and other political parties united to defeat the BJP and save the nation.

Question: How does chemistry work? Both of you have not met for so long, you two of you have been kind enough to break the ice and warm up.

Rahul Gandhi: The chemistry is very good. I have been working with Mr. Naidu for some time now, I must say, there is a lot of commonality in our thinking. There is a similarity in our vision, I think that there are many things that can be done together. If you remember, and I have already spoken about it many times, when Mr. Naidu lost the election in 2004 and the press followed him, I stood up to defend Mr. Naidu and him. I said do not disrespect Mr. Naidu because he has a very good job in government.

Question: So, is it a meeting of minds? Do you agree on a lot of things?

Rahul Gandhi: We love each other. We think we can do a lot together and I think you will see that in the next election we will win elections.

Question: Together in 2019?

Chandrababu Naidu: Now we work together, it's the national mission – we are all united. We are all witnessing what has happened in the last 4 years – even today. Even the media is under enormous pressure. In addition, all institutions are totally demolished. It is up to every citizen, every political party, to fight against the BJP and win the elections.

Question: What is the driving force behind this alliance?

Rahul Gandhi: Can I just introduce Mr. Kodandaram and let him say a few words?

Question: Sir, here is a coalition that … you fought the Telangana struggle, you are in the vanguard of this particular struggle – now you are badembling Rahul Gandhi and Chandrababu Naidu and TJS himself, how will he add strength? Why do you think you will be able to defeat an SRT, which said: "We own the first owner of Telangana" – they claim that

M. Kodandaram: We fought for a separate state. After reaching it, we are now trying to fight for democratic development. a development that benefits everyone in this region, and in this struggle, we want to support all political parties. It is also the current thought and atmosphere of Telangana. They want these political parties to come together and fight for a better Telangana.