Taken aback by the intensity of disillusionment of a key ally Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the “raw deal” to his State in the 2015 Union Budget, BJP leadership on Sunday took initiative to placate his ruffled feathers.
A day after TDP president Chandrababu Naidu went to town with his pain and anguish over his State not getting special category status and adequate funds in Arun Jaitley’s Budget, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu tried to assuage his feelings by suggesting a meeting with the Union Finance Minister and resolving the grievances.
But fueling the speculation of Chandrababu Naidu’s growing disenchantment with the Modi Government over his wishlist getting ignored, he met popular Telugu film star, founder of Jana Sena Party Pavan Kalyan and discussed the possible strategy to confront with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on special status to AP. Pavan Kalyan drove to the residence of Chandrababu and spent one and a half hour discussing why the special needs of residuary State of Andhra Pradesh were not given a place in the Budget.
Venkaiah Naidu on the other hand told a Press conference in Hyderabad on Sunday that he spoke over telephone to the AP Chief Minister on Saturday evening and advised him against airing his views in public. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed his pain and hurt over AP not getting special category status and adqequate funds in the Budget.
“I have told him (Chandrababu), if there is a need, he can speak to Union Finance Minister and Prime Minister also. It is wrong to say there is bias against Andhra Pradesh and injustice has been meted out to the State,” Venakaiah Naidu said. He advised Chandrababu to meet Jaitley when he returns from foreign tour three days later and clear the differences over how much the State expected as assistance and how much it got.
Venkaiah Naidu did not agree that AP was given a raw deal in the Budget. He said that if the allocation made in the Budget and 14th Finance Commission were seen collectively, Andhra Pradesh got a lot of money. “That is the assessment of the Central Government and Union Finance Minister is also saying the same,” he added. He assured AP that if there were any shortcoming, the Centre was ready to necessary follow up.
He pointed out that over the next five years Andhra Pradesh will get Rs2,06,819 crore or Rs41,364 crore per year under the 14th Finance Commission as a result of enhanced devolution. “AP gets an additional Rs29,374 crore per year during the next five years as per the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission,” he added. On allocation of Rs100 crore for Polavaram Irrigation Project, Venkaiah Naidu said that he was also disappointed by the meager allotment.
“Yes, it is a matter of concern to me also, but the project could have got higher allocation if the detailed project report was prepared and submitted to the Centre,” he said. He blamed successive Congress governments for keeping the project pending since laying foundation stone in 1978. Putting up a forceful defence of the Budget, Venkaiah Naidu said that having inherited a precarious economic situation, the NDA Government was trying to strengthen the economy. “The reasons need to be seen on how much amount the Centre is having. It is the responsibility of the Centre to distribute amount equally among all states and departments.
He said that Centre would fulfill the promises made to both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on availability of resources. On special status category to AP, he said, no final decision was taken.