Chandrababu Naidu seeks special status category for Andhra Pradesh

NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu today sought special status category for the state besides an increase in central assistance, saying that it has suffered immensely after its bifurcation.

Naidu, who raised the issue at the governing council meeting of NITI Ayog here, lamented that central assistance to Andhra Pradesh was "disproportionate" to the state population and less than the amount Telangana received.

"While the state has a population of 58 per cent of the entire population of Andhra and Telengana put together, they are only getting central assistance of 48 per cent of the total central assistance to the region.

"On the other hand, Telangana, which has 41 per cent of the entire population of Andhra and Telangana, is getting 52 per cent of the central assistance," he told reporters after the meeting.

Naidu said that he has put forth the demand for special fund for construction of a new state capital and exemption of tax besides other incentives for industries in the state.

Centre should ensure that there is a level-playing field for Andhra Pradesh, which has been financially affected post of the division of the state, he said.

He also sought inter-linking of rivers in his state. Naidu supported the setting up of NITI Ayog saying that it is working in the interest of the state and its meetings are going to be held more regularly unlike the Planning Commission, which met only once a year.