Chandrababu meets Opposition leaders in Delhi over special status

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is undertaking a two-day visit to New Delhi to meet leaders of various political parties and seek their support for the demand of special status to Andhra Pradesh.

Days after quitting the NDA alliance and moving a no-confidence motion against the BJP government, Chandrababu is seeking assistance from the Opposition for the cause of Andhra Pradesh.

On Tuesday, in Central hall of Parliament, he held a series of meetings with politicians including Congress leaders Veerappa Moily, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Rajiv Satav, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Food Processing Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of State and leader of Apnal Dal Anupriya Patel, SP’s Ramgopal Yadav, National Conference MP Farooq Abdullah, Trinamool Congress leaders Sudip Bandopadhyay and Saugata Roy, CPI national secretary D Raja, TRS MP Jitender Reddy, Sudip Bandhopadhyay, Derek O’brien from TMC and AIADMK’s V Maitreyan, among several others.

Having arrived on Tuesday morning, Chandrababu bent down to touch the steps of the Parliament building as he entered the premises along with all his MPs. Earlier, he offered floral tributes to the Mahatma Gandhi statue opposite the entrance.

Speaking to the media, Chandrababu called for the regional parties to join forces with the TDP to raise the concerns over the injustice meted out to the states ruled by Opposition parties. 

Having met the party leaders in Parliament where he also discussed the special status issue with them, he pointed out that the regional and Left parties had supported the TDP's efforts to bring in a no-confidence motion and was given an assurance on their support.

He explained to the party leaders regarding the failure of the Centre in delivering justice to AP and mentioning that the assurances made under the AP Reorganisation Act were not being fulfilled.

The TDP chief also held discussions with Murali Manohar Joshi, Hema Malini and Jayant Sinha of the BJP and leaders of some NDA allies. 

He also handed over the booklets to the leaders, explaining the Centre’s injustice towards AP along with the failed promises made at the time of bifurcation.

Among the other issues discussed, the proposals of the 15th Finance Commission and coordination between like-minded parties were also brought up.

On Wednesday, Chandrababu met his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal to seek support on pressuring the Centre to give a special category status to the state. 

As per the TDP sources, the Chief Minister might extend his stay by a day or two in case the no-confidence motion against the NDA government is taken up for discussion in the Lok Sabha.