Smarting over the alleged neglect to Andhra Pradesh in Budget 2018-19, MPs of the State’s ruling Telugu Desam Party have decided to talk tough in Parliament on issues related to the State.
They will convey to the Centre the displeasure and anger of the people over the lack of specific budgetary allocations for major projects such as the Polavaram irrigation project, the construction of the new State capital Amaravati, and the promised railway zone at Visakhapatnam.
The decision to up the ante was taken at a meeting of the TDP’s parliamentary party, in Amaravati on Sunday, presided over by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Although it was widely speculated that some drastic decisions would be taken, the BJP’s central leadership reportedly intervened and averted an immediate crisis.
It is reported that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh rang up the Chief Minister and advised restraint, assuring him that issues relating to AP would be addressed. The alliance of the TDP and the BJP has come under great strain in the aftermath of the Union Budget this year.
Naidu is reported to have advised the MPs to raise all issues in Parliament, and exert pressure on the Centre to fulfill the provisions of the AP State Reorganisation Act, 2014, and also to honour its promises.
Meanwhile, some opposition parties have given a bandh call on February 8 over the issue.