Andhra Pradesh Special Status Row Latest Updates: Following Chandrababu Naidu's decision for TDP to quit the NDA government, TDP MP and MoS Science and Technology YS Chowdary said that it is not a "good move" but under unavoidable circumstances they have no choice but to step down.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday night asked his party's two central ministers to resign amid the growing strain in ties between his TDP and the BJP over alleged neglect of the state in the Union Budget.
He said his party would come out of the NDA "but party-to-party issue" (of ties with the BJP) will be decided later.
File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu. PTI
The two ministers are — Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary.
Addressing reporters at an emergency meeting, Naidu said,"This is the first step. We will go ahead with other actions later."
The Telugu Desam Party chief said he tried to speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "courtesy" to inform him about the decision to quit but he did not come on line.
"Arun Jaitley's statement was the last straw. They are apparently predetermined. They don't appear to help the state," he said.
The decision came hours after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the Centre can't offer special status to Andhra Pradesh, but would offer a special package with equivalent funding.
With inputs from PTI
Published Date: Mar 08, 2018 09:58 AM | Updated Date: Mar 08, 2018 10:06 AM
Highlights
Ashok Gajapathi Raju, YS Chowdary to make statements in Parliament today
Shiv Sena expected this; allies don't have good relations with BJP now, says Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut
All MPs must resign from TDP-BJP alliance, says YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy
Andhra Pradesh would have been granted special status if UPA was in power: Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao
Congress asks Narendra Modi's govt to deliver on its promises, supports Andhra Pradesh
Chandrababu Naidu makes BJP look bad over special status row, but gambit may only pay off if Andhra buys sob story
Timing the departure was not easy. The TDP procrastinated ever since the Union Budget 2018 completely ignored Andhra Pradesh, argues TS Sudhir in this Firstpost article. It was then that Naidu for the first time made his displeasure public and started the process of consultations to divorce BJP.
Naidu's style of doing realpolitik is to never do anything in a hurry. In 1995, when he staged the coup to overthrow NT Rama Rao, it came on the back of several days of secret meetings with his camp followers. Likewise in 1998, when he had to take the decision on whether or not to support the Vajpayee-led NDA, he took over a week to do so. This manner of doing politics is with an eye to keep the window of dialogue open, to use the pressure to force the other side to climb down and to make it appear as a well thought-out decision arrived at after consulting everyone.
On Wednesday, when Naidu started speaking, it did not seem like it will be the endgame. Naidu's tone during his speech in the Assembly was one of hurt and beseeching, of someone left in the lurch.
It was a performance targeted at the domestic audience in Andhra Pradesh, to tell the voters that if not for the BJP, he would have achieved all that he promised four years ago.
'Rahul Gandhi has promised us special category status; why is BJP not paying attention to state's needs': Chandrababu Naidu
Miffed with the Centre's inaction over providing the special category status to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu asked in the Assembly on Wednesday why the BJP wasn't responding to the needs of its alliance. "Rahul Gandhi is saying they will give ‘special category status’ to AP if they come to power. Why are you (BJP) not responding to the needs of your alliance partner?” Naidu had asked, according to this Indian Express report.
Naidu made it clear that the promise of the special category status was the only reason behind the TDP-BJP alliance and added that the saffron party had shown double standards on keeping its promises.
BJP MLAs to resign from TDP Cabinet; no state has received as many favours as Andhra Pradesh, says BJP leader
'Not a good move, but unavoidable,' says TDP MP and MoS YS Chowdary on Chandrababu Naidu's decision to quit NDA govt
YSR Congress backs TDP's move
YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has extended his support to TDP for demanding the special category status for Andhra Pradesh, reported India Today TV. He also suggested that TDP should move a "no trust motion" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
TDP, opposition YSR Congress have been demanding grant of special status
All parties in the state, including the ruling TDP and the main opposition YSR Congress Party, have been agitating in Delhi demanding grant of special status. Agitations are also going on across the state.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said at the time of making the alliance, the BJP had said it backed the demand for grant of special category status for Andhra Pradesh but now it was singing a different tune.
He said the promises on statehood and other financial demands of the state have not been honoured by the BJP and he could not make any compromise on the state's interest.
"TDP is not for power but for self-respect. We decided there is no point in continuing in the government," he added.
'Will not rest till Andhra Pradesh receives special status': Andhra Pradesh Congress
TDP MP and Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju seeks appointment with Modi to resign
A short explainer on the Andhra Pradesh special status row
The reason Andhra Pradesh, led by chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, is clamouring for more funds is that the state has been facing a continued massive revenue deficit since 2014 - Rs 16,000 crore (2014-15), Rs 4,598 crore (2016-17) and Rs 14,682 crore (2017-18), according to India Today.
If the state receives the special category status, it will considerably ease the financial burden on Naidu's government. Under the special category status, a state receives financial assistance in the ratio of 90:10 (Union: State) for externally aided and centrally sponsored projects, which is much higher than the Finance Commission mandated 60:40 ratio.
According to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), this deficit has been taking place due to the bifurcation of the state into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The party feels that the Centre must compensate for these losses. However, as per the India Today report, there is an another line of argument that the state has such a high revenue deficit because of the Rs 10,000 crore given as farm loan waiver.
Meanwhile finance minister Arun Jaitley has said that the Centre has already provided the state (Rs 4,000 crore) with funds. "Only Rs 139 crore is remaining," he said.
'Centre went out of its way to help Andhra Pradesh,' says BJP
The BJP, on Wednesday night, rejected Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu's charge that the Modi government neglected the state, saying the Centre not only fulfilled all its obligations, but also had went out of its way to help the state.
BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the Modi dispensation worked to ensure that Andhra Pradesh got full resources in the infrastructure and industrial sector after the bifurcation of the state.
Congress says decision to pull out of NDA 'too little, too late'
The Congress on Wednesday said that the TDP's decision to pull out of the NDA government at the Centre was "too little, too late" as it "has done nothing" to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh in the past four years.
“This is too little and too late. The TDP has been an ally of the BJP for four years now and has done nothing to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh," senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh and former union minister MM Pallam Raju said.
BJP calls Naidu's move a 'classic case of political opportunism'
Decision to quit is for benefit of people of Andhra Pradesh, says Chandrababu Naidu
'Centre has been taking one-sided decisions'
TDP's future in NDA may be decided after talking party-to-party
Chandrababu Naidu said a decision on TDP's continuation in the NDA would be decided after talking party-to-party (BJP and TDP). "This (quitting the cabinet) is the first step," he said.
"They (the Centre) are predetermined not to help the state. In the interest of our state, we have taken the decision," he said. I tried to inform the prime minister for courtesy's sake. But, he did not come on line. My OSD informed the prime minister's OSD."
The drastic decision of the TDP may not have come as a shock to the BJP, which has already conveyed to its two ministers in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet to be ready to quit any moment.
'Have shown patience for four years': Chandrababu Naidu
Chandrababu Naidu's decision comes after Arun Jaitley says 'can't grant special status to Andhra Pradesh'
Chandrababu Naidu's announcement came hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi told the media that granting of special status to Andhra Pradesh was not possible after the 14th Finance Commission recommendations.
Jaitley did not make any new commitment except for reiterating that the Centre had extended all possible help to the bifurcated state.
Granting special category status was a promise made by the previous UPA government at the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of Telangana, which all the parties in the state are seeking now.
'Centre is not in mood to listen': Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu
TDP MPs and Union ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju, YS Chowdary to resign
TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced to the media that the two TDP ministers — P Ashok Gajapathi Raju (Civil Aviation) and YS Chowdary (Minister of State for Science and Technology) — will tender their resignations on Thursday morning.
BJP MLAs in Andhra Pradesh Cabinet set to resign today
'Unfortunate' that Modi couldn't take Naidu's call: Congress leader Ahmed Patel
TDP to pull out of Narendra Modi's government today
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Wednesday night announced its decision to pull out of the Narendra Modi government in protest against refusal of the Centre to grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, saying the Centre has done injustice to the state.
10:06 (IST)
Ashok Gajapathi Raju, YS Chowdary to make statements in Parliament today
10:02 (IST)
Shiv Sena expected this; allies don't have good relations with BJP now, says Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut
09:58 (IST)
All MPs must resign from TDP-BJP alliance, says YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy
09:47 (IST)
Andhra Pradesh would have been granted special status if UPA was in power: Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao
09:43 (IST)
Congress asks Narendra Modi's govt to deliver on its promises, supports Andhra Pradesh
09:36 (IST)
Chandrababu Naidu makes BJP look bad over special status row, but gambit may only pay off if Andhra buys sob story
Timing the departure was not easy. The TDP procrastinated ever since the Union Budget 2018 completely ignored Andhra Pradesh, argues TS Sudhir in this Firstpost article. It was then that Naidu for the first time made his displeasure public and started the process of consultations to divorce BJP.
Naidu's style of doing realpolitik is to never do anything in a hurry. In 1995, when he staged the coup to overthrow NT Rama Rao, it came on the back of several days of secret meetings with his camp followers. Likewise in 1998, when he had to take the decision on whether or not to support the Vajpayee-led NDA, he took over a week to do so. This manner of doing politics is with an eye to keep the window of dialogue open, to use the pressure to force the other side to climb down and to make it appear as a well thought-out decision arrived at after consulting everyone.
On Wednesday, when Naidu started speaking, it did not seem like it will be the endgame. Naidu's tone during his speech in the Assembly was one of hurt and beseeching, of someone left in the lurch.
It was a performance targeted at the domestic audience in Andhra Pradesh, to tell the voters that if not for the BJP, he would have achieved all that he promised four years ago.
09:33 (IST)
'Rahul Gandhi has promised us special category status; why is BJP not paying attention to state's needs': Chandrababu Naidu
Miffed with the Centre's inaction over providing the special category status to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu asked in the Assembly on Wednesday why the BJP wasn't responding to the needs of its alliance. "Rahul Gandhi is saying they will give ‘special category status’ to AP if they come to power. Why are you (BJP) not responding to the needs of your alliance partner?” Naidu had asked, according to this Indian Express report.
Naidu made it clear that the promise of the special category status was the only reason behind the TDP-BJP alliance and added that the saffron party had shown double standards on keeping its promises.
09:23 (IST)
BJP MLAs to resign from TDP Cabinet; no state has received as many favours as Andhra Pradesh, says BJP leader
09:14 (IST)
'Not a good move, but unavoidable,' says TDP MP and MoS YS Chowdary on Chandrababu Naidu's decision to quit NDA govt
09:13 (IST)
YSR Congress backs TDP's move
YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has extended his support to TDP for demanding the special category status for Andhra Pradesh, reported India Today TV. He also suggested that TDP should move a "no trust motion" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
09:06 (IST)
TDP, opposition YSR Congress have been demanding grant of special status
All parties in the state, including the ruling TDP and the main opposition YSR Congress Party, have been agitating in Delhi demanding grant of special status. Agitations are also going on across the state.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said at the time of making the alliance, the BJP had said it backed the demand for grant of special category status for Andhra Pradesh but now it was singing a different tune.
He said the promises on statehood and other financial demands of the state have not been honoured by the BJP and he could not make any compromise on the state's interest.
"TDP is not for power but for self-respect. We decided there is no point in continuing in the government," he added.
08:49 (IST)
'Will not rest till Andhra Pradesh receives special status': Andhra Pradesh Congress
08:48 (IST)
TDP MP and Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju seeks appointment with Modi to resign
08:35 (IST)
A short explainer on the Andhra Pradesh special status row
The reason Andhra Pradesh, led by chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, is clamouring for more funds is that the state has been facing a continued massive revenue deficit since 2014 - Rs 16,000 crore (2014-15), Rs 4,598 crore (2016-17) and Rs 14,682 crore (2017-18), according to India Today.
If the state receives the special category status, it will considerably ease the financial burden on Naidu's government. Under the special category status, a state receives financial assistance in the ratio of 90:10 (Union: State) for externally aided and centrally sponsored projects, which is much higher than the Finance Commission mandated 60:40 ratio.
According to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), this deficit has been taking place due to the bifurcation of the state into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The party feels that the Centre must compensate for these losses. However, as per the India Today report, there is an another line of argument that the state has such a high revenue deficit because of the Rs 10,000 crore given as farm loan waiver.
Meanwhile finance minister Arun Jaitley has said that the Centre has already provided the state (Rs 4,000 crore) with funds. "Only Rs 139 crore is remaining," he said.
08:22 (IST)
'Centre went out of its way to help Andhra Pradesh,' says BJP
The BJP, on Wednesday night, rejected Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu's charge that the Modi government neglected the state, saying the Centre not only fulfilled all its obligations, but also had went out of its way to help the state.
BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the Modi dispensation worked to ensure that Andhra Pradesh got full resources in the infrastructure and industrial sector after the bifurcation of the state.
08:14 (IST)
Visuals from outside Andhra Pradesh Assembly ahead of state budget
08:13 (IST)
Congress says decision to pull out of NDA 'too little, too late'
The Congress on Wednesday said that the TDP's decision to pull out of the NDA government at the Centre was "too little, too late" as it "has done nothing" to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh in the past four years.
“This is too little and too late. The TDP has been an ally of the BJP for four years now and has done nothing to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh," senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh and former union minister MM Pallam Raju said.
08:06 (IST)
BJP calls Naidu's move a 'classic case of political opportunism'
07:56 (IST)
Decision to quit is for benefit of people of Andhra Pradesh, says Chandrababu Naidu
07:55 (IST)
'Centre has been taking one-sided decisions'
07:48 (IST)
TDP's future in NDA may be decided after talking party-to-party
Chandrababu Naidu said a decision on TDP's continuation in the NDA would be decided after talking party-to-party (BJP and TDP). "This (quitting the cabinet) is the first step," he said.
"They (the Centre) are predetermined not to help the state. In the interest of our state, we have taken the decision," he said. I tried to inform the prime minister for courtesy's sake. But, he did not come on line. My OSD informed the prime minister's OSD."
The drastic decision of the TDP may not have come as a shock to the BJP, which has already conveyed to its two ministers in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet to be ready to quit any moment.
07:44 (IST)
'Have shown patience for four years': Chandrababu Naidu
07:27 (IST)
Chandrababu Naidu's decision comes after Arun Jaitley says 'can't grant special status to Andhra Pradesh'
Chandrababu Naidu's announcement came hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi told the media that granting of special status to Andhra Pradesh was not possible after the 14th Finance Commission recommendations.
Jaitley did not make any new commitment except for reiterating that the Centre had extended all possible help to the bifurcated state.
Granting special category status was a promise made by the previous UPA government at the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of Telangana, which all the parties in the state are seeking now.
07:23 (IST)
'Centre is not in mood to listen': Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu
07:22 (IST)
TDP MPs and Union ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju, YS Chowdary to resign
TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced to the media that the two TDP ministers — P Ashok Gajapathi Raju (Civil Aviation) and YS Chowdary (Minister of State for Science and Technology) — will tender their resignations on Thursday morning.
07:11 (IST)
BJP MLAs in Andhra Pradesh Cabinet set to resign today
07:10 (IST)
'Unfortunate' that Modi couldn't take Naidu's call: Congress leader Ahmed Patel
07:04 (IST)
TDP to pull out of Narendra Modi's government today
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Wednesday night announced its decision to pull out of the Narendra Modi government in protest against refusal of the Centre to grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, saying the Centre has done injustice to the state.