The ‘nonchalant attitude’ of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders towards Andhra Pradesh came in for subtle criticism from leaders of its regional ally — Telugu Desam – at the Mini Mahanadu here on Sunday.
The speakers chose to impress upon the party cadre that notwithstanding the ‘U turn’ taken by the Centre in honouring the commitments made to AP, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was doing a ‘tight ropewalk’ to implement pre-poll promises like waiver of farm loans, extension of DWCRA loans to women Self-Help Groups and providing free medical aid to the poor at corporate hospitals.
Pendurthy MLA Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy grew emotional while referring to the attitude of certain BJP leaders, who were finding fault with the TDP for the current problems being faced by the State.
“The BJP should not forget that it will need regional parties’ support for victory in the 2019 elections. It is only covert leaders from other parties, who joined the BJP, who are criticising the TDP and the Chief Minister,” he said and asked the BJP leadership to sideline such coverts and abstain from ‘cheating the TDP.’
Minister Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu decried the ‘double talk’ of the BJP and felt that AP should be given Special Category Status (SCS) and the Centre should assist the State in building the new capital.
MP’s vow
Anakapalle MP Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao recalled his vow not to contest as an MP again if railway zone with Vizag as headquarters was not granted. The Chief Minister had raised the issue with the Centre several times and it was wrong on the part of the Opposition to find fault with him on that count.
Minister Kollu Ravindra felt that it was responsibility of the Centre to implement all the assurances given to the State in the AP Reorganisation Act.
Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that seat-sharing with the BJP for the forthcoming Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) elections would be finalised soon. He called upon the TDP cadre to take advantage of the ‘inexperienced’ and ‘corrupt’ Opposition leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who was merely banking on the ‘sympathy factor’ ever since the death of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to garner the support of the public.
TDP Urban District president Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar presided over the meeting.
MLAs N. Rama Naidu (Palacole), P.V.G.R. Naidu, Peela Govind and Palla Srinivasa Rao and Telugu Mahila leader Vani were among those who spoke.
MLA Velgapudi Ramakrishna Babu could not attend due to bereavement.
