Even though the saffron party is in power at the centre, it is difficult for BJP to survive on its own in Andhra. BJP can’t get any sustenance from NDA government directly. Because, funds are not released to the parties to take up developmental works in the constituencies or help party leader benefit from these works. The party knows pretty well that they can not avail a dime from central grants to the benefit of the party when they are not part of the TDP led government.
If they go out, except the MPLADs and MLA constituency grants,the party won’t get anything from the state.Now being partners in the government, BJP ministers can do something to the areas where the party is a force. This is the predicament of BJP in Andhra Pradesh which is forcing the Saffron party to cling to the TDP, despite its known unwholesome relationship with the Yellow party.
In spite of the war of words these parties have no option but to love each other. NDA won’t grant special status. TDP will continue to appropriate central schemes and rebrand them as its own. Party general secretary Suresh Reddy unwittingly revealed the compulsions of supporting the TDP at state level.
“Though we are not happy with the way the TDP leadership is targeting the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre on the issue of special status, we want to continue our partnership with them. As of now we do not have any plan to pull out our two ministers from the State cabinet. We will take a decision in this regard at an appropriate time,” Suresh Reddy said talking to media.
Suresh Reddy, however, dismissed the TDP leaders’ attitude towards Centre on the issue of granting special status and fulfilling the other promises made to the State. The NDA government at the Centre has done a lot for the state in the past 23 months. It has released funds as per the commitments made to AP in the last two years. TDP’ leaders criticism is unfair,” he said.
He took strong objection to TDP’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “TDP should not forget that without the Prime Ministers’ support the state would not have got so much funding for taking up development works,” he added.
“TDP leaders should desist from misleading people that BJP is against giving special status to AP. The fact is that the centre is trying hard to extend maximum support to the state than what it would get in the event special category status tag is granted. TDP’s double tongue is a mystery for us. In Delhi it speaks in one voice and in the State another. People are watching TDP politics,” he said.
