Special Status For AP Is TDP's Main Agenda: Naidu

The TDP had never compromised on the Special Status issue, and its main agenda was to get the benefits of Special Status in any form, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said today. That was the reason that his government had accepted a special package instead since the Centre had explained that the 14th Finance Commission had made it clear that Special Status was not going to be given to any state that did not meet the explicit criteria, and the special package was promising all the same benefits.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday after conducting a coordination committee meeting at Praja Darbar Hall located in the premises of his residence, Naidu stressed that the Centre was fully capable of according Special Status to Andhra Pradesh as it was giving the same to some other states, and asked the Centre what the problem was in according it. He firmly said that all the benefits which would come from Special Status as promised by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should be accorded to the state.

Taking serious exception at the state BJP's criticism, Naidu found fault with the party's leaders and said that they needed to go to Delhi and demand that the Centre deliver on all the assurances instead of criticising the TDP. The TDP government had still done lot of development though the Centre didn't extend the expected help, he claimed.

Referring to the YSR Congress Party, Naidu said that his party would always go in tune with the sentiments of the people unlike other political parties that had their own agendas in the fight over getting the bifurcation assurances delivered. Naidu alleged that the YSRCP was speaking different words each day, as opposed to his party whose only criterion was the interest of the state. He pointed out that the YSRCP had actually praised the union budget in the beginning.

He also alleged that the party leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was trying to provoke the people by linking regional sentiments to Special Status. He also said that Jagan was enacting the resignations drama with an ill-intention to see that justice was not done to the state. He opined that there was a better chance that the demands of the state would be fulfilled through the mounting of pressure on the Centre while seeking the help of all Opposition parties in Parliament than resign from it.

About the no-confidence motion proposed by some leaders, Naidu said that it was not possible to move a motion of no-confidence in Parliament against the NDA as the NDA had a clear majority and there needed to be at least 54 MPs supporting the motion.