Amit Shah writes to Naidu, says decision to quit NDA is unilateral

Almost a week after its biggest ally TDP walked out of the NDA alliance, Amit Shah, the BJP President written an open letter to Chandrababu Naidu calling the decision of the regional party as unfortunate, unilateral and above all politically motivated.

In a six-page open letter addressed to TDP chief and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Shah said: " It is a decision, I am afraid will be construed as being guided wholly and solely by political considerations instead of development concerns". Brushing aside allegations that the prime minister has failed to "hand hold" the residual state of Andhra Pradesh, Shah said that the PM has left no stone unturned in ensuring the growth and prosperity of the state.

Holding the Congress party responsible for the mismanaged bifurcation and zero sensitivity towards the people of AP, Shah pointed out that BJP has lent its voice to safeguard the welfare of the Telugu people. " When TDP was not having adequate representation in both the Houses, it was the BJP that set the agenda and ensured that justice is done," Shah said in his reply to Naidu's letter explaining the reasons for quitting the alliance.

Stressing that the TDP very well knew that the BJP has fulfilled all its obligations, the BJP president reiterated that the issue of Special Category Status is nothing but whipping up of sentiments by certain political parties. " I would like you (Naidu) to introspect whether political parties should be pitting sentiments against each other to further their political agenda," Shah wrote.

Citing the amended terms of reference by the 14th Finance Commission, Shah said that the commission has awarded Rs 22,113 cr covering the state's revenue deficit for five years. He assured that new Railway zone, Kadapa steel factory and Duggirajapatnam port are under active consideration.

Shah concluded his letter saying that the BJP will continue to work for the development of the state despite the fact that the TDP has squandered the mandate earned together for political reasons.