TDP not pursuing Andhra Pradesh's special status issue with Centre: YSR Congress

HYDERABAD: YSR Congress today said the ruling TDP is not taking the Opposition into confidence and is reluctant to press the Centre for special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

"The state government has never taken Opposition parties into confidence on the issue of special status and has never raised the subject on leading a delegation to Delhi on the issue. There are conflicting and confusing reports from the Centre on the special status (issue)," party MLA B Rajendranath Reddy said here.

Stating that special status would benefit Andhra Pradesh in getting more Central grants and funds besides rapid industrialisation, Reddy said, "The TDP government is not pressing for it though it was clearly mentioned in the AP Reorganisation Bill."

The assurance of special status was given by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha, where senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu, former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh and others were also present, he said in a release.

"The issue also had the Cabinet nod and was sent to Finance Commission," he claimed.

"Now Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely is telling that we have to look into it if Andhra Pradesh can be covered under the provisions of special category or not. This is not in good taste. The BJP and its ally TDP trumpeted during electioneering that BJP will grant special status which will propel the state towards development," the release quoted him as saying.

"But, now they have changed the tune and TDP is totally silent and does not discuss the issue any more, which gives rise to doubts that it is not talking on the issue as it has to cover up its own fallacies which include the irregularities in the capital formation and the Pattiseema projects," he alleged.

"The state government has its own priorities and has been pursuing with its hidden agenda of benefiting its favoured few in the capital formation and Pattiseema project. It has involved some private players from Singapore, for obvious reasons," the YSR leader further alleged.