Shah holds meeting with party's Andhra, Telangana units

BJP President Amit Shah today held meetings with the party's core groups in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during which leaders, including Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu and General Secretary Ram Madhav, deliberated on expanding the organisation's base in the two states.
BJP National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh, who is Andhra Pradesh in-charge, said they have decided to launch programmes to spread the word about the central government's works for the two states and also undertake measures to expand the organisation.
The saffron party has been traditionally weak in these states. Its ally TDP is in power in Andhra Pradesh.
Amid attacks on the Centre, at times even by TDP leaders, for not granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh, BJP has planned to inform people about huge increase in the central allocation to the state.

Against the total award of Rs 98,820 crore to the state under the 13th Finance Commission, Rs 2.06 lakh crore will be awarded under the 14th (2015-20), an increase of 109 per cent, sources said.
"We will launch a publicity exercise, including showing video films, about the various central works, including setting up of IIT and AIIMS," a source said.
Shah held separate meetings with the states' core groups.