TDP to pull out of Narendra Modi's NDA government; Centre failed to meet demand for special status to Andhra Pradesh, says Chandrababu Naidu

Amaravati: Weeks of simmering tension between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finally came to a boil on Wednesday as the TDP, a key ally of the BJP, decided to pull out of the Narendra Modi government after the Centre ruled out Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh, among other demands.

File image of Chandrababu Naidu. News18

"We have decided to pull out of the Union government, because the Centre has failed to meet the demands of the TDP on special status for Andhra Pradesh, which was promised at the time of bifurcation, and other demands relating to the state's finances," Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu told the media late on Wednesday night after holding consultations with the party colleagues.

"We wanted to convey the information about pulling out from the government to Prime Minister Narendra Modi out of courtesy, but he could not be contacted... My Officer on Special Duty (OSD) has conveyed it to the PM's OSD," Naidu said.

Naidu also announced to the media that the two TDP ministers—P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju (Civil Aviation) and Y.S. Chowdary (Minister of State for Science and Technology)—will tender their resignations on Thursday morning.

The TDP is second-largest party after the BJP in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

In the Lok Sabha, the TDP has 16 members and in the Rajya Sabha, it has six members. It is the first pre-poll partner of the BJP to pull out of the Modi government after being a part of it for nearly four years.

Naidu's announcement came hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in New Delhi, told the media that granting special status to Andhra Pradesh was not possible after the 14th Finance Commission recommendations. Jaitley did not make any new commitment, except for reiterating that the Centre had extended all possible help to the bifurcated state.

Granting special category status was a promise made by the previous UPA government at the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of Telangana, which all the parties in the state are seeking now.  The Andhra Pradesh chief minister said a decision on TDP's continuation in the NDA would be decided after talking party-to-party (BJP and TDP). "This (quitting the cabinet) is the first step," he said. "They (the Centre) are determined not to help the state. In the interest of our state, we have taken the decision," he said.

The drastic decision of the TDP may not have come as a shock to the BJP, which has already conveyed to its two ministers in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet to be ready to quit any moment. Dr. Kamineni Srinivas (Medical and Health) and P. Manikyala Rao (Endowments) may quit the Naidu cabinet on Thursday morning, hours before the budget presentation by Finance Minister Y. Ramakrishnudu in the assembly.

Naidu held consultations with the party's MPs, ministers and important leaders before taking the decision and making it public. The MPs, including the two ministers, expressed a unanimous opinion that Jaitley's statement on the demands for special status to Andhra Pradesh was disappointing and discouraging.

All parties in the state, including the ruling TDP and the main opposition YSR Congress Party, have been agitating in Delhi demanding grant of special status to Andhra Pradesh. Agitations are also going on across the state.

Naidu said at the time of making the alliance, the BJP had said it backed the demand for grant of special category status for Andhra Pradesh, but now it was singing a different tune.  He said the promises on statehood and other financial demands of the state have not been honoured by the BJP and he could not make any compromise on the state's interest. "TDP is not for power but for self-respect. We decided there is no point in continuing in the government," he added.

Naidu said Jaitley's comments suggest that Andhra Pradesh is asking for too much. He also slammed the finance minister for saying "sentiments will not decide the quantum of funds". He said he made 29 trips to Delhi, met the prime minister and other ministers and tried to do his best to ensure justice for the state. "I am not angry with anybody," he added.

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