Chandrababu Naidu aims for TDP Government in Telangana in 2019

KARIMNAGAR: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu today said contentious issues between his State and Telangana can be resolved through mutual dialogue.

Speaking at a TDP meeting at Timmapur in the district in Telangana, Naidu said he is ready to discuss issues with regard to electricity with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to arrive at an amicable solution.

"We will sit and discuss all (contentious) issues. We should not cause inconvenience to people. Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana should march ahead on path of progress," he said.

Naidu said he expects positive response from his Telangana counterpart on his offer of dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues arising out of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh last year. These issues relate to sharing of Krishna river water, Labour Department funds and power among others.

He appealed to his party workers to support BJP candidates in the upcoming Council elections. BJP is part of the TDP-led Government in Andhra Pradesh.

"I am sure that Telugu Desam would come to power in 2019 elections (in Telangana)," Naidu said, seeking to boost the morale of his party cadres in the newly formed State, where Rao-led TRS is currently in power.

He claimed Telangana enjoys surplus budget due to the development work he undertook during his tenure as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh (1995 to 2004).

Meanwhile, police had stepped up vigil following protest by activists of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS), an outfit fighting for categorisation of the community as SC in AP and Telangana, during Naidu's visit to Warangal last month.

Some leaders of MRPS were taken into custody as a precautionary measure, police said.