A survey among the TDP cadre reportedly found that 95 per cent want the alliance to called off. (File)
Hyderabad: While Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu today said his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will take the "right decision at the right time", top leaders of his party said a split with the BJP is imminent. "It is not a question of if, but when," said young TDP lawmaker Rammohan Naidu when asked if the TDP will exit the BJP-led national alliance NDA. Mr Naidu, said sources, could even withdraw his two ministers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet over the state not being given central funding under "special status." Top BJP sources said they see this as only a threat and do not expect Mr Naidu to pull the plug.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story:
- Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley explained on Wednesday evening that Andhra Pradesh has not been given "special category status" because that scheme has been scrapped. "After the 14th Finance Commission there is no special category scheme, though some states like the north east and hill states get 90% funding from the Centre...We decided that Andhra should be compensated after bifurcation for the amount a special status state gets and we have provided for those funds. We stand by that," he said.
- "Political issue cannot increase the funds... Sentiment does not increase the quantum of funds... We have to look at the country as a whole," Mr Jaitley added.
- Addressing the state assembly today, Chandrababu Naidu made an emotional appeal. "Why won't you give us special status, it is our right, respect people's feeling," he said, adding that the "onus is on the Centre to clarify its position. We are not angry, we are asking for our rights." He said he had visited Delhi 29 times over the demand.
- Talking to TDP lawmakers via teleconference this morning, Mr Naidu lashed out at the Centre saying it was "insulting the sentiments" of the people of the state by not honouring the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, and also in Parliament when the state was bifurcated to carve out a separate Telangana state. He said there would be "no compromise in protecting the state's interests. Let us bear whatever difficulty, but we will take a right decision at the right time."
- The TDP has been deeply upset since Mr Jaitley presented the Union Budget last month, complaining that it neglected Andhra Pradesh. The party had pulled back from the brink of a break-up but warned that the Centre must make a big announcement for Andhra Pradesh before the ongoing Budget session ends.
- The TDP faces extreme pressure in the state ahead of assembly elections and the national election next year, with opposition parties accusing Mr Naidu of failing Andhra Pradesh by not ensuring special status for it as a partner at the Centre. A survey among the TDP cadre showed that 95 per cent favour ending the partnership with the BJP, struck just ahead of the 2014 national election.
- TDP lawmakers have continuously pressured the government ever since the union budget was presented, disrupting parliament by shouting slogans demanding that Andhra Pradesh be given central funding under special status.
- Other parties have joined in. Apart from Andhra Pradesh's chief opposition party the YSR Congress, lawmakers from the Congress and Trinamool Congress too protested in Parliament on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- "We will give special category status to Andhra Pradesh. It's the first thing we will do after coming to power in 2019," Congress president Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday, also urging opposition parties to unite to "force the BJP government to do justice to the people of Andhra."
- Rammohan Naidu said his party will not ally with the Congress, who it blames for the situation. The Congress was in power when the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh was approved. The state's political parties say the bifurcation caused a huge revenue deficit for what was left of Andhra Pradesh.
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