HYDERABAD: Setting the stage for a direct confrontation with its ally, TDP, the BJP leadership seems to have begun adopting a two-pronged strategy to make inroads in Andhra Pradesh. On the one hand, the BJP-led government at the Centre on Monday approved the release of Rs 1500 crore by way of budgetary support to the construction of the new State capital and thereby, sought to refute TDP claims of ‘injustice’. On the other hand, the BJP has reportedly given its nod to its AP leaders to launch ‘issue-based agitations’ against the TDP government.
“In consonance with Section 94(3) of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, the Government of India has agreed to provide Special Financial Support for essential facilities for the new capital of AP including construction of Raj Bhavan, State Secretariat, State Assembly and High Court etc,” the Centre said in an official release. Of the Rs 1500 crore, Rs 1000 crore is meant to support essential amenities in the new capital and the remaining is to be used exclusively for the construction of Raj Bhavan, Secretariat, Assembly etc.
In fact, the Centre had sent a communique to the State on Feb 21 itself stating it was releasing Rs 1,500 crore for the capital. Interestingly, the AP government had sought Rs 20,000 crore for the capital.
Meanwhile, BJP president Amit Shah had a meeting with AP BJP leaders Kavuri, Purandeswari, Kanna Lakshminarayana, Haribabu and Minister Manikyala Rao on Monday. “He asked us to start undertaking agitations on the failures of the TDP government. He asked us to counter TDP accusations that the Centre is not doing anything to AP,” a senior leader, who took part in the meeting, told Express.