TDP's only agenda is special status: Andhra CM

The only agenda of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is to get the benefits of special status, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said on Tuesday.

Addressing the party coordination committee meeting at his residence here, the TDP chief said his party had earlier accepted special economic assistance to Andhra Pradesh as the Centre had explained that 14th finance commission stopped special category status.

"But now the special category status is being continued for some states, then what is the problem in giving that status to Andhra?" the Chief Minister asked.

He clarified, "Under whatever name, the benefits of special category status must be provided to the state."

The TDP supremo lashed out at the YSRCP, saying the opposition party was changing its stand every day.

"It is the party that lauded the Union Budget on the day one. Now, Jagan is trying to create sentiments in the name of special status and trying to provoke the layman of the state."

Naidu said the Bharatiya Janata Party was making statements claiming the Centre had given many privileges to the state.

"When the state BJP leaders went to Delhi, instead of asking the Centre for the needs of the state, they questioned the TDP," he opined.

He said the TDP had developed Andhra to new heights even though the Centre did not support the state in the last three years sufficiently.

According to the Chief Minister, the Central government has good majority and even if no confidence motion is put forward, it will not pass.

Since the announcement of the Union Budget on February 1, the TDP has been agitating in the Parliament for more allocations and fulfillment of promises in the Reorganisation Act.

Opposition YSRCP is demanding Special Category Status, claiming it is the only solution for all problems.

YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy said they were ready for no confidence motion if the TDP supported, but the ruling party chief said such step should be taken only as last resort in extreme conditions.