Will PM Modi deliver special category status for Andhra Pradesh, asks Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Janasena Chief Pawan Kalyan. File | Photo Credit: PTI

The Congress has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PM Modi) to give clarity on whether he would deliver the special category status for Andhra Pradesh.

On X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared his speech in the Rajya Sabha from seven years ago regarding the Modi government’s “failure” to deliver on the promise of the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014. “I made this speech in the Rajya Sabha seven years ago, about the Modi Government’s failure to deliver on the promise of the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014. Unfortunately, it still holds true today,” he said.

“Unless (Chandrababu) Naidu garu takes this issue up aggressively, there is little hope that the ‘one-third’ Pradhan Mantri will act,” he said.

He said there are five broad issues that Mr. Modi should issue clarifications. “Will the prime minister deliver the special category status for Andhra Pradesh like he promised in the holy city of Tirupati in March 2014,” he asked.

“Will he release the pending funds for the Polavaram Multipurpose Irrigation Project? Will he halt the privatization of the Vishakapatnam Steel Plant that his Government has pioneered?” he said.

Will the PM operationalize the new South Coast Railway zone that is supposed to be headquartered in Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Ramesh asked.

“Will he finally sanction the various commitments made in the AP Reorganization Act – including the Kadapa Steel Plant, Duggirajupatnam Port, the Kakinada Petro complex, and an Agricultural University for the state – that he has dragged his feet on for ten years?” the Congress general secretary said.

Mr. Ramesh’s remarks come on the day of the swearing-in ceremony of Naidu as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. Naidu’s TDP is part of the BJP-led NDA.