Amit Shah slams Chandrababu Naidu for TDP's exit from NDA over Andhra Pradesh special category
A day after the BJP made big gains in the Rajya Sabha elections, party chief Amit Shah has written a letter to Chandrababu Naidu, saying his Telugu Desam Party's decision to exit the ruling NDA coalition at the centre over the demands for 'special category status' for Andhra Pradesh is unfortunate and unilateral.
"This decision is both unfortunate as well as unilateral. It's a decision; I am afraid, will be construed as being guided wholly & solely by political considerations instead of developmental concerns," Mr Shah has written in his letter.
"It is widely known that the Union Government led by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has left no stone unturned in ensuring the growth and prosperity of Andhra Pradesh," the letter added.
The TDP, once the BJP's biggest ally in south,
pulled out of the government earlier this month over the special status demand.
TDP exited the NDA alliance over the centre's reluctance to grant special category to Andhra Pradesh
Mr Naidu's party is also trying to bring a no-confidence motion against the government in parliament, after arch-rival Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress sent a notice. However, the no-confidence motions against the government have not been taken up so far due to repeated adjournments in parliament.
Assembly elections are due in Andhra Pradesh next year and regional parties in the state, including the YSR Congress, have repeatedly targeted the TDP for being unable to secure a special category status for the state. The tag would have meant a greater infusion of central funds, something that was promised by the centre earlier.
The demand for the special category status for the southern state has been a big issue ever since the bifurcation of the state which gave birth to Telangana 2014. Mr Naidu said Andhra was promised a special category status, but the centre has refused what it was promised.