Surprising as it might sound, more than anybody else, it was Telugu Desam Party MP Avanti Srinivas who had to bear the brunt of the NDA government’s announcement that there is no question of granting special status to Andhra Pradesh.
According to sources, TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called up Srinivas and took him to task strongly. Reason: the MP has raised the question of special category status to Andhra Pradesh in Lok Sabha and Union Minister Jayant Sinha had given a written answer saying there was no way AP would be given special status and that the centre was already giving enough funds to the State.
It is an open secret that Naidu is already aware that the Centre would not grant special status to AP. So does Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu. But both the Naidus have been hoodwinking the people of the state saying the special status issue is still under the consideration of the Centre. But with Avanti Srinivas seeking a written answer from the Centre on the issue, both the Naidus stand exposed.
This is precisely why Chandrababu Naidu was so angry with Avanti Srinivas.
“Why the hell you raised the issue in Lok Sabha and pushed us into an embarrassing situation? Now, I am in soup and has to get into confrontation with the Centre. You have created a situation wherein the TDP has to come out of the NDA. Does it do good for the State?” he reportedly questioned Avanti Srinivas.
Poor MP, he does not have the kind of diplomatic behaviour Naidu has. He should learn the art of diverting the people’s attention.
