Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu are now under pressure, as they have failed to fulfill their commitment to get special status to Andhra Pradesh, despite their tall claims during electioneering last year.
This has given a strong weapon to the Opposition parties -- the YSR Congress party and the Congress party to attack the ruling TDP and the BJP. Though Chandrababu Naidu is going all out to get the promise fulfilled, the chances of getting the special status are bleak.
According to former minister C Ramachandraiah, the blame has to go entirely to Venkaiah Naidu who had supported the Telangana bill after getting an assurance from the Centre that AP would get special status. But even after the BJP came to power, Venkaiah has failed to get special status to the residuary AP and he also conveniently ignored financial commitments given by the Centre in Parliament at the time of passage of AP Reorganisation Bill.
Ramachandraiah accused Venkaiah Naidu of misleading the people by his “mesmerizing” speeches and oratorical skills.
He maintained that though the Centre was in a position to solve the financial problems of the AP State, those in the Union Cabinet, including Venkaiah Naidu were not keen on coming to the rescue of the residual State.
Recalling that Congress had announced in parliament special category status to the residuary AP for five years, he said, Venkaiah, who was Rajya Sabha member at that time, wanted the special status increased to ten years.
Even seven months after bifurcation of the united State, the Centre failed to fulfill its assurance on the pretext that other States were also demanding the same on par with AP.
He demanded that the Centre implement all provisions mentioned in the AP Reorganization Act, including financial assistance for construction of capital city, administration buildings apart from special category status.
