TDP will fight for Telugus in different roles: Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will continue to work for the well being of Telugu people in its different roles in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and at the Centre.

The TDP president said with a presence in both the states and a key role at the Centre, the TDP alone can keep Telugu people united and ensure their development and prosperity.

Inaugurating a three-day 'Mahanadu' or annual conclave of the party at Gandipet on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Naidu said as the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh it would take measures for the development and welfare of the people and as an opposition party in Telangana it would continue to fight on people's issues.

"As a partner in the ruling NDA at the Centre, TDP will fight for justice for both the states," Naidu told thousands of party workers from both the states.

Naidu's marathon address set the tone for the deliberations at the three-day conclave, the first after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

He said Telugus now have two states but they are united as the language they speak is the same and they share a common culture and heritage.

He urged the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government in Telangana to come forward to solve all outstanding issues between the two states through talks and in accordance with the Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation Act. "Issues can't be solved by confrontation and provocation," Naidu said.

Claiming that Andhra and Telangana are his two eyes, he said the TDP's role as an opposition party in Telangana should not be seen as a hurdle in resolving issues.

Stating that Telangana and Hyderabad developed during his rule in united Andhra Pradesh, Naidu threw a challenge for a debate.

Referring to the defection of some TDP legislators to the TRS, Naidu said if one leader leaves the party, the TDP has the strength to produce 100 leaders as its cadres are intact.

Lauding the hard work and discipline of the cadres, he said it was because of them that the party emerged stronger from every crisis during the past 34 years.

"Whatever may be the conspiracies against us, no one can damage TDP," he said and pointed out that the party enrolled 54 lakh members in 50 days.

"There is no party like TDP in the country. It is the only trend setter party," he said while recalling that it was party founder N.T. Rama Rao who provided an alternative to the Congress party at the Centre.

Naidu reiterated that Andhra Pradesh was not divided in a just manner and blamed the Congress party for complicating the matter for political gains.

He said the TDP was fighting to get justice and ensure that the assurances given by the central government like special status for the state, incentives to industry, special package for backward regions and a separate railway zone for Visakhapatnam are fulfilled.

Listing the achievements of his government in Andhra Pradesh during the last one year, he said the government was taking all steps to fulfil the promises made to the people despite the financial crunch.

Naidu said the government will develop a world class capital city Amaravathi, for which Singapore has prepared a master plan. Thanking the farmers for giving their land for the capital, he promised that it will be a win-win situation.

Stating that the Congress will never recover in Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said the YSR Congress was born out of corruption. He reiterated that money and assets recovered in corruption cases should be deposited in the public exchequer.