AP Feels Special Package Better Than Special Status

The Centre is reportedly mulling over whether to give Andhra Pradesh special status as being sought by the Chandrababu Naidu dispensation or convince the Chief Minister to accept a special package of financial assistance.

Governor E S L Narasimhan's report is said to be playing a key role for as the Centre prepares to take a final call, it is learnt.

With no signs of a promise from the Centre in the near future and no concrete steps taken so far, the Andhra Pradesh government seems to have given up hopes on special status for the state.

So if the Centre opts to give a package, the Naidu government is reportedly planning to seek a whopping Rs 50,000 crores in financial assistance (special status might fetch only around Rs 10,000 crores).

The Centre has been repeatedly saying it would give more funds to the state than the latter would get through a special status. Keeping this in view, the Naidu government is apparently all set to plump for a special package rather than up the ante against the Centre and strain its relations with the BJP-led NDA government.

"Though we are pressing for special status, the Centre will take a final call only after a report of the expert committee on it," TDP leader and union minister Sujana Chowdhary said.