Describing as dull and dud the representation made by the Andhra Pradesh Government before the 14th Finance Commission, the YSR Congress Party has said that the State's interests should take a precedence over political interests, and that the Chief Minister ought to be more dynamic and assertive instead of playing the blame game.
"The Chief Minister should have been very assertive and sought more funds instead of blaming the previous governments for the bad shape of the economy and the State being pushed backward. It was his political interests that came to the fore before the Finance Commission, and not the State's interests," Party spokesperson Tammineni Sitaram told reporters on Friday.
It was not fair on the part of Chandrababu Naidu to blame the previous governments for the State's economy, and instead he should have bargained hard as he was part of the NDA coalition and sought more funds, Sitaram said. The CM should also have put forth the argument that the indicators of development like the literacy rate, GDP and population control should be relaxed for the newly formed State.
"On the contrary, he was trying to pass the buck onto the previous governments before the Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission of India, Y V Reddy. We strongly oppose this, and our Party will submit its own version to the Commission," he said.
The State should seek more funds due to the special circumstances post-division, setting aside the parameters of the Commission vis-à-vis other states, Sitaram opined. Chandrababu Naidu did not get a single assurance from the Centre after assuming office, he alleged.
"The CM should have asked for a 50% share of the taxes collected in the State, and such other sops as would put the economy on a vibrant mode. But he has a version of converting the state into a Singapore for public consumption, and another for officials of an economy in dire straits, which shows his double standards," Sitaram said.
"We will be at the forefront of taking up the people's causes, and will place the State's interests ahead of political interests, unlike the TDP," he swore. (INN)