The BJP is a force to reckon with in Andhra Pradesh, its State president Kanna Lakshminarayana has said.
“With a strong network in 27,000 out of 42,000 booths and a membership of over 40 lakh, which no other party can boast of, the BJP’s strength is quite evident in the State,” Mr. Lakshminarayana told The Hindu on the second day of his tour in the district on Thursday.
SCS issue
On possible alliances with like-minded parties, Mr. Lakshminarayana said, “Our leadership has decided that we contest all the 175 Assembly seats in the general elections. However, if any party expresses its willingness to join hands with us, the leadership will take a call on it.”
When asked about the much-debated “denial” of Special Category Status (SCS) to the State, he hoped the people would not attach much importance to it, as the BJP-led NDA government had reached out to the State in an unprecedented way, giving it benefits that were more than what would have accrued had SCS been accorded.
“The Centre has extended many benefits to Andhra Pradesh in the last four years though there is time till 2023 to fulfil the commitments made as per A.P. Reorganisation Act. But these are not being highlighted by the ruling TDP. Though the Centre promised to grant 11 national institutions, 22 have been sanctioned in the last four years,” he said.
These apart, huge funds had been given under various schemes, but the TDP government changed their names to avoid giving credit to the Narendra Modi government, he alleged.
“The Chandranna Bima and NTR housing schemes are actually funded by the Centre,” Mr. Lakshminarayana claimed. “Owing to the federal system of governance, the Centre is unable to initiate action against the State government in spite of diversion of funds and change in the names of its flagship programmes. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) will certainly look into these issues,” he said.
Book on ‘misdeeds’
of TDP govt.
Stating that he would publish a book soon on the “misdeeds of and corruption in the TDP government,” he said, “There are many scams in the construction of Amaravati. We will highlight them in our book and make people aware of the misdeeds of the government.” Earlier, the BJP leader participated in the International Yoga Day celebrations and interacted with dalit families of Talavaram village.
He will be touring Vizianagaram district on Friday and Saturday.