TDP dumps BJP, Chandrababu Naidu to decide on NDA exit today

The months of tussle between the BJP and its ally in the centre and state Telugu Desam Party came to an end on Wednesday evening with TDP finally pulling out of the Modi government.

The TDP has been demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh and had intensified its demand since last few months. However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday while speaking to media cleared that the Modi government will not grant special status to the state. Hours after his comments, TDP held a press conference where it announced its withdrawal from BJP led NDA government.

The Centre has been taking one sided decisions and our patience has run out now. When the purpose of joining the union cabinet hasn’t been fulfilled, it’s best to resign now.

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018

TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu said, “The centre has failed to fulfil the promises it made at the time of bifurcation of the state. Thus, we have decided to pull out of the government.” The two ministers of TDP in Central government, Civil Aviation Minister Gajapathi Raju and Y. S. Chowdary MoS for Science and Technology will submit their resignation Thursday morning.

With 16 Lok sabha members and 6 Rajya Sabha members, TDP is the second largest party in NDA after BJP. Naidu asserted, “TDP is not for power but for self-respect. We decided there is no point in continuing in the government.

I am not angry with anyone. This decision has been taken only to benefit the people of Andhra Pradesh.

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018

Hitting out at the FM for his comments that “sentiments will not decide quantum of funds”, he said the comments give impression that Andhra Pradesh is asking for too much. He added, “I made 29 trips to Delhi. I met several ministers and Prime Minister but to no avail. I am not angry with anybody.”

I tried reaching out to the Prime Minister to inform him about our decision. But sadly, he was unavailable.

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 7, 2018

Chandrababu Naidu told the media that he called up the Prime Minister to tell him about the party’s decision but he got no response from Prime Minister’s side.

TDP is the first pre-poll alliance partner to pull out of NDA government. Now it remains to be seen if Shivsena another scorned ally of BJP comes out of the government.