Congress Criticizes Chandrababu Naidu on Special Category Status

Congress criticized TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu for leaving the NDA in 2018 due to the failure to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Despite the current government's reliance on his MPs, only 'special financial support' for Amravati has been provided. The Union Budget has proposed significant funding for Andhra Pradesh's capital and other projects.

In a sharp critique on Tuesday, the Congress took aim at TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, highlighting his departure from the NDA in 2018 over the failure to grant Andhra Pradesh special category status. According to Congress, despite the current government's need for Naidu's MPs' support, the only gain has been 'special financial support' for Amravati.

The government unveiled a series of financial measures for Andhra Pradesh, including Rs 15,000 crore this fiscal year for the state's capital development. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting the Union Budget 2024-25, emphasized facilitating special financial support for the state's capital.

Reacting to the announcement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh questioned the delay, remarking, 'Why has it taken 10 years to implement what was committed to in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014?' The budget also allocated over Rs 3 lakh crore for women and girls' schemes and committed to the Polavaram irrigation project's completion. Further grants were announced for the state's backward regions.