Chandrababu Naidu meets PM Modi, raises issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh

Sources said Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu told PM Narendra Modi that a special status was assured to Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation by his predecessor Manmohan Singh.

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and raised the issue of special status for his state, to which the PM cited some technical issues but assured that he would examine the matter.

TDP MPs also met the Prime Minister separately and raised the issue. They were assured by Modi that "their problem is his problem" and justice would be done to the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Sources said Naidu told the Prime Minister that a special status was assured to Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation by his predecessor Manmohan Singh and also by the TDP and the BJP during the polls and the promise must be delivered.

The Chief Minister is also believed to have said that since several political parties supported the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, the chances of their resistance to special status to the state is likely to be little.

Union Minister of State YS Chowdary and Naidu's trusted aide in Delhi said the Prime Minister cited some technical difficulties in granting special status to the state, but assured he will definitely examine the issue.

Naidu, who landed in the national capital yesterday, has since met President Pranab Mukherjee, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar and invited them for the Krishna river Kumbh mela.

The TDP, an NDA ally, has two ministers in the Modi Cabinet. With the Congress and the YSR Congress, the main opposition party in AP, demanding a special status, the pressure has been mounting on the TDP over the issue.