Naidu threatens to pull out of NDA

​Vijayawada: Totally dissatisfied with the outcome on the Special Status discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his disgust by stating that he would not hesitate to come out of NDA if things were not moving in favour of Andhra Pradesh.

“I fail to understand why the national party is targeting AP, he added. TDP sources told The Hans India that Naidu would once again take up the issue with the Prime Minister if he feels that it would help the state in extracting some benefits. If not, it will evolve appropriate strategies which could include severing ties with BJP.

Fretting and fuming at a late evening press conference on Friday, the Chief Minister said he failed to understand why the Finance Minister had adopted such an attitude though all the political parties had demanded Special Status for Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu said he was assessing the situation and would once again write to the Centre to convene all-party meeting to resolve the issue as well as disputes between AP and TS. He said as of now he was keeping all options open and would take a decision after talking to his party leaders and depending upon the evolving situation.

“My hope has been shattered to some extent. Some have been saying that I am successfully enacting a drama. That is their perception but my only objective is to see that the state comes out of all problems. Justice has to be done to AP,” he said.

Naidu said when the BJP agreed for the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh giving an assurance did they not know that the financial situation of the country was not good and that it involves financial aspects? Why did they agree?

The argument which Jaitley had put forward in Rajya Sabha today is not correct, Naidu said. The BJP also did not insist that it be included in the Act before passing the AP State Re-organisation Act.

The government on Friday should have at least said what it would do to compensate the loss. Unfortunately Jaitley was silent on the issue, he said.

Naidu also disagreed with the contention of the Finance Minister that 14th Finance Commission had not agreed for granting special status. The Chief Minister said that the finance commission has nothing to do with special status.

Replying to a question, he said he was not just depending on the Centre but was working very hard to put the state on the track but was showing patience only because he wants to see that the state grows at a fast pace. He felt that the BJP was committing the same mistake as Congress party. Friday’s development could go against the BJP.

Referring to the statistics and details read out by the Jaitley in regard to the devolution of funds and sanction of other projects, he said the Centre had not done anything extra for the state and this Jaitley himself had stated. He said he was only demanding that the Centre should give what was promised.

Naidu, who watched the proceedings in Rajya Sabha on Television, is understood to have expressed his ire over the party MPs for not being able to create an impact in Rajya Sabha.

Soon after the debate was over, he held a teleconference with the party MPs and is understood to have given them a dressing down. He felt that the MPs failed to convert the situation to the advantage of the TDP. He was also unhappy that they were silent and did not protest. On the other hand the Congress stole the show towards the end by staging a walkout.