With the Union Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha also ruling out special status or more funds for Andhra Pradesh, politics over the issue has heated up, with leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy announcing State-wide protests on May 10.
After Union Minister of State Haribhai Chaudhary’s statement against special status to Andhra, Jayant Sinha’s fresh statement in Parliament has added to the political woes of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his Telugu Desam Party.
Speaking at a function in Vizianagaram on Thursday the Chief Minister said the State was still facing serious problems because of the bifurcation. “The Center’s help is a must to make the State’s economy stand on its own feet”, he said. Naidu pointed out that despite a revenue deficit, the State had spent Rs23,500 crore on waiving farmers’ loan.
Breathing down Naidu’s neck, Opposition leader Jaganmohan Reddy has gone on the offensive against the Naidu Government. He will lead the party’s protest in East Godavari district while other senior party leaders will participate in other districts.
“Jayanth Sinha’s statement on special status has clarity that it is not going to happen”, said senior YSRCP leader Botsa Satyanarayana.
He held the State Government’s failure in mounting pressure on the Centre for the situation.
Another party spokesperson Ambati Rambabu demanded that the TDP should withdraw its Ministers from NDA Government.
Not to be left behind the Congress Party has also joined the issue and organised protests at different places in the State. Party senior leader Shailajanath, who led the demonstration in Anantapur said that special status was the right of Andhra Pradesh and the Centre will have to give it.