The Telugu Desam Party MPs have decided to talk tough in Parliament on issues related to the state and convey to the Centre the displeasure and anger of the people of the state over lack of specific budgetary allocations for the major projects in the state such as the Polavaram irrigation project and the construction of the new capital Amaravati, and the promised new railway zone at Visakhapatnam.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the TDP parliamentary party at Amaravati on Sunday, presided over by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. It was widely speculated that some drastic decisions would be taken at the meeting, but the central leadership of the BJP reportedly intervened and averted an immediate crisis. It is reported that Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with the Chief Minister and advised restraint, assuring him that issues relating to AP would be addressed. The alliance of the TDP and the BJP has come under great strain in the aftermath of the Union Budget this year.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is reported to have advised the TDP Members of Parliament to raise all issues in Parliament and exert pressure on the Centre to fulfil the provisions of the AP State Reorganisation Act, 2014, and also to honour the promises made by the Central leadership. Meanwhile, some of the opposition parties have given a call for a state bandh on February 8 over the issue.