: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has promised to work for accelerated development of Andhra Pradesh and do “whatever possible” to ensure that the State made rapid strides.
Mr. Suresh Prabhu, whose name was cleared as the BJP’s Rajya Sabha candidate from Andhra Pradesh in a last-minute change, filed his nomination on Tuesday. Mr. Prabhu went in a rally from the party office to the Legislative Assembly premises. He was accompanied by BJP State president K. Hari Babu, Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, senior leader K.S. Rao while submitting his papers to Legislature Secretary K. Satyanarayana Rao.
In a brief chat with reporters later, Mr. Suresh Prabhu said he would focus on the development of infrastructure and human development indices in the State. “Andhra Pradesh is a dynamic State. The State’s accelerated development will contribute to the growth of the country,” he said. Mr. Prabhu, however, refused to respond when asked about the demand for SCS and railway zone for the State. “I can tell you nothing at this point of time,” he said, adding the State and Central governments should work together as Andhra Pradesh was facing several challenges because of the previous regime.
Sujana, TGV file papers
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Y. Satyanarayana (Sujana) Chowdary filed his nomination along with another TDP nominee T.G. Venkatesh. He went in a rally to the Assembly premises from NTR Trust, the party's headquarters, paying tributes at the NTR memorial en route. He was welcomed by Minister P. Raghunath Reddy and other senior leaders.
“My responsibility has increased and I will strive to highlight the State’s needs at the national level,” he said.
“Request came from
Modi, Amit Shah”
Mr. Venkatesh said TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu’s selection of Mr. Prabhu was strategic in that it now had representation of five Union Ministers in the Cabinet. While Mr. Prabhu, Mr. Sujana and Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapati Raju were continuing in the State’s quota, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and another Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman too were attached to the State.
TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh, who joined the TDP leaders, accompanied Mr. Sujana into the Assembly corridor. He said the TDP had accepted the request made by BJP president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accommodated Mr. Suresh Prabhu.
