TDP to put pressure on Centre over legal sanctity to special package

VIJAYAWADA/GUNTUR: TDP Parliamentary party has decided to exert pressure on the Centre to accord legal sanctity to special package announced by the Centre in lieu of Special Category Status (SCS).
Though, the Opposition parties are still demanding SCS for the State and the principal opposition YSRC even announcing that its party MPs would resign for the cause of SCS, the TDP MPs have decided to give up the demand for SCS to pressurise the Centre for according legal sanctity to special package.

Ahead of the commencement of budget session of Parliament from Tuesday, the TDP MPs called on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the Interim Government Complex at Velagapudi on Monday and discussed the party strategy to be followed in both the houses of Parliament.

Speaking to mediapersons, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary asserted that the TDP will demand legal sanctity to special package announced for the State.

“SCS is a closed chapter as per the recommendations of Niti Aayog. That is why, we will insist on legal sanctity to special package,” he said and exuded confidence on securing the same by February 15.
When asked about the proposed resignations of YSRC MPs for want of SCS, he said they had nothing to do with it. The YSRC is making an impossible demand, he said.

Another MP TG Venkatesh opined that the State had no other option but taking those benefits being offered by the Centre. “As the BJP has a clear majority and is not depending on its allies, it is always wise to remain friends with the BJP and get more benefits for the State instead of resorting to confrontation with the Centre, he observed.

Sources said that during the meeting with MPs, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had suggested to them to explain to the public about the benefits to be accrued with special package to prevent the Opposition parties from misleading the public in the name of SCS.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary party meeting held at party State office in Guntur was chaired by party general secretary Nara Lokesh. It’s for the first time that Lokesh has chaired the meeting, which set off speculation that he is being promoted in the party and that he might even be asked to take even more important responsibilities.

The meeting was attended by MPs of AP and Telangana. In the meeting, Lokesh appealed to all MPs to focus on issues related to AP and get funds from the Centre. In the meeting, they discussed the special package, new railway zone, success of partnership summit at Visakhapatnam and others. Lokesh asked the MPs to mount pressure on the Centre for railway zone for AP with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters.