Extending the special status given to Seemandhra after bifurcation from five years to 10 years and ensuring that all promises made during the division are implemented are among the major promises in the BJP Seemandhra manifesto released by senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu here on Friday.
The BJP while exuding confidence about coming to power at the Centre has assured the people of Seemandhra that constitutional amendments will be taken up if there are any legal hurdles in having a common capital, special powers to the Governor and on Article 371 (D).
The 15-page manifesto has vowed to make Seemandhra a ‘wealthy state’ assuring nine-hour power supply to farmers, employment, steps to complete the Polavaram multipurpose project, development of Vizag-Chennai corridor, use of the KG basin gas and premier educational institutes like IIT and IIM and an AIIMS-type medical facility.
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Criticising those harping on division to get mileage, Mr. Naidu declared bifurcation was a historic truth. However, since people of Seemandhra did not seek division and lost Hyderabad to the development of which everyone contributed, it was the responsibility of the Central government to pay special attention to it and allocate funds, he said. The special status would enable getting 90 per cent grant and 10 per cent loan as against 30 per cent grant and 70 per cent loan.
Stating that BJP was projecting a man from the most backward sections of society as prime ministerial nominee, he accused the Opposition of unleashing a poisonous propaganda against him.
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BJP Andhra Pradesh president K Haribabu said thrust on natural resources-based development and completion of pending irrigation projects including Jhanjhavati and Vamsadhara, setting up of Agricultural Technology Development Board and State Maritime Development Board and development of water ways were among the priorities.
With 20 lakh of the 30 lakh pumpsets in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh would be relieved of the burden of supplying power to them. Besides, it has plans to develop 1,000 MW of solar power in just a year and take up power plants stalled solving ‘minor hitches’ making it a power surplus state paving the way for development using the tax concessions for setting up industry.
Senior leader D.V. Subba Rao, BJP Visakhapatnam East nominee Vishnukumar Raju, city president P.V. Narayana Rao and Bandaru Ranga Mohana Rao were present.