Former minister Konathala Ramakrishna will decide on his future course of action after completing his ‘Janaghosha’ rail yatra to New Delhi during which he will press for the fulfilment of assurances made to Andhra Pradesh before bifurcation, including granting of Special Category Status (SCS) to the State and forming a separate railway zone for Visakhapatnam.
“If one is to contest, he or she has to join a political party,” Mr. Ramakrishna said in reply to a question on whether he would join any political party, with elections only a few months away.
The former minister has not aligned with any political party after unsuccessfully contesting from Anakapalle in the 2014 Assembly elections on a YSRCP ticket.
Support sought
Offering prayers at the Sri Sampath Vinayaka temple in the city on Wednesday, Mr. Ramakrishna said he would seek the support of all political parties in New Delhi for his protest and added that he would commence the five-day yatra by A.P. Express from Visakhapatnam on the last day of the Budget Session of the Lok Sabha. Mr. Ramakrishna said he would hold discussions with people in Assembly constituencies before joining any political party. The former minister said he would seek the support of youth, women, trade unions, teachers, lawyers and intellectuals. Mr. Ramakrishna took out a similar protest in January last year.
‘Unfulfilled promises’
The former MP said none of the promises made by the Union Government to Andhra Pradesh had materialised. The assurances include a Bundelkhand-type package for backward North Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, tax incentives, a steel plant at Kadapa, a port at Dugarajapatnam and development of the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor. Regrettably, even the package of ₹350 crore released for backward districts was taken back, he said. Funds were not released for institutions and the tribal university may not take off even in the next academic year, he said.
The last budget meeting for this Lok Sabha will be a last opportunity for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil the promises made by the Centre, Mr. Ramakrishna said, accusing Mr. Modi of wasting the huge mandate that he had got in 2014, trampling upon democratic values, and taking decisions in a dictatorial manner.