TDP-BJP row LIVE UPDATES: (Express Photo/Prem Nath Pandey/File)
A day after pulling out of the government, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Friday issued an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over demand for Special Category Status for the state. On Thursday, following a 10-minute conversation between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two ministers from the TDP — P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y S Chowdary — resigned from the Union Cabinet.
Express Explained | Why Andhra Pradesh, Centre can’t agree on special category status
After tendering their resignations, the ministers tread carefully, calling the developments unfortunate. Chowdary, speaking to the media, said, “It is not a good move but unfortunately, due to unavoidable circumstances, we had to take this move. We are stepping down as ministers, but our president has said we will be continuing as part of NDA.”
On Wednesday morning, meanwhile, two BJP ministers resigned from Naidu’s cabinet. Kamineni Srinivas, Health and Medical Education minister and P Manikyala Rao, Endowments Minister, submitted their resignations to the Chief Minister ahead of the commencement of the state budget session.
President Ram Nath Kovind, as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has accepted the resignations of Union Ministers P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Y S Chowdary. The President has also directed that the work of the Ministry of Civil Aviation will be looked after by the Prime Minister.
Welcome to our live blog on the row between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Prades and the BJP. Stay tuned, we'll bring you the latest news and updates through the day.