The Telugu Desam Party appears to be in no mood to sever its ties with the BJP, notwithstanding the growing demand from the Opposition parties, including the YSR Congress.
As expected, the party has toed a soft line on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance Government.
TDP president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu cautioned the party leaders and cadre about the efforts of the Opposition parties to “provoke” the TDP in the name of special category status and other promises made to the State at the time of bifurcation.
The newly formed State would need the Centre’s helping hand and liberal assistance till it achieved level-playing field with the neighbouring States like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
“These parties are trying to gain political mileage through false propaganda against the TDP. We have never compromised when it comes to the interests of the State. We are observing restraint with the hope that the Centre will continue hand-holding the State till it achieves level-playing field,” he said, responding to a resolution moved regarding the special category status and related issues in the party’s Mahanadu here on Friday.
Mr. Naidu informed the delegates that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured to positively look into the requests made by the State recently.
“The Centre is no doubt extending its helping hand. But the assistance does not match the requirements of the State, which started its journey with huge revenue deficit and other bifurcation related problems,” he said.
Stating that he had requested Mr. Modi to do justice to A.P. without harming the interests of neighbouring Telangana, Mr. Naidu said his government was firm in maintaining cordial relations with the neighbouring State.
Poverty alleviation
Responding to another resolution on poverty alleviation and social inequalities, he said the government was not averse to giving reservation to poor in the upper castes if it was established by proper surveys.
The Mahanadu also adopted a resolution condemning the TRS Government for its failure to mitigate the problems faced by farmers who were suffering with acute drought.
Moving the resolution, Telangana TDP farmers’ wing president V. Pratap Reddy lamented that over 3,200 farmers committed suicide in Telangana in the past two years.
The government announced payment of compensation of Rs. 6 lakh each to the victims. But the surveys conducted by the government identified only 560 farmers of which compensation was paid to only 40 farmers.
“The government remains unmoved to the plight of the farmers who are faced with acute crisis,” he said.
The TDP reiterated its request to the Prime Minister to ensure handholding to Andhra Pradesh till it achieved level playing field with its neighbours in terms of human and development related indices.
The Centre should take steps to fulfil all the promises made to the State in the Reorganisation Act and on the floor of the Parliament at the time of bifurcation to ensure the State overcomes financial and other problems.
The resolution elaborated on the literacy, health, and other parameters where the State was lagging behind, and said Andhra Pradesh deserved the grant of special category status that would enable it to secure 90 per cent of funds under externally aided projects and centrally sponsored schemes as grants.
