Chandrababu Naidu: Joined NDA because Andhra needed hand-holding after 'non-scientific' bifurcation

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Naidu laments lost time, points out special status benefits granted to other states
  • At Constitution Club, CM shows reporters videos of PM promising AP voters justice
  • Govt made us believe. Ultimately decided that there is no hope: C Naidu
Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu (Photo: Twitter/@ncbn)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Naidu laments lost time, points out special status benefits granted to other states
  • At Constitution Club, CM shows reporters videos of PM promising AP voters justice
  • Govt made us believe. Ultimately decided that there is no hope: C Naidu

The Telugu Desam Party joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's NDA because it needed hand-holding after the "non-scientific" bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said Wednesday in New Delhi.

But now, he said, the people of Andhra Pradesh felt betrayed - this, after four years of BJP rule at the Centre, during which he made 29 trips to the capital.

Andhra Pradesh's long wait for special status benefits, which began when Telangana was created in 2014, culminated last month in Naidu's TDP pulling out of Modi's NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in frustration.

Naidu showed reporters videos of Narendra Modi promising to deliver justice to voters in Andhra Pradesh on the 2014 campaign trail.

He lamented "so much of lost time," and pointed out the NDA administration had granted several other states special status benefits.

"This government made us believe. Ultimately we discussed and decided that there is no hope. We decided there is no need to be in (the) central government," he said.

Two TDP ministers, Ashok Gajapati Raju and Y S Chowdary, quit the Modi administration just before the TDP left the NDA.

"They're talking about cooperative federalism," Naidu said. "When I demanded rights under bifurcation, they are attacking a state. Is it right? Is it correct?"

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