The cold war between the TDP and the BJP over the raw deal meted out allegedly by the Central government to Andhra Pradesh in extending assistance after bifurcation was evident from the subtle remarks Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu made about Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s “penchant for liberal doses of financial aid.”
Mr. Venkaiah Naidu’s casual words that “Mr. Chandrababu Naidu would not be satisfied with the help being extended by the Central government” came at the foundation-laying function of the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology at Surampalli in Krishna district on Friday. “There are people who crave for power. But here is a man who asks for more whenever we give any project or extend financial assistance. He is so much dedicated to the development of the State,” Mr. Venkaiah Naidu said about Mr. Chandrababu Naidu in his short speech.
In what was a gentle retort, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said, “Mr. Venkaiah Naidu understands our difficulties and it is good that he is espousing the cause of A.P. whenever the situation warrants. Everyone knows that we are facing a financial crisis and we don’t even have a Capital. A.P., which has 58 per cent of the population of undivided State, has only 47 per cent income. On the other hand, Telangana has an income of 53 per cent on a population of 42 per cent. These are the kind of anomalies A.P. is facing.”
Mr. Chandrababu Naidu also sought hand-holding by the Centre till A.P. achieved growth on par with other progressive States. “We are happy with what Mr. Venkaiah Naidu is doing, but we want the Central government to speed up its support,” the Chief Minister added.
