The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Andhra Pradesh): Congress has intensified its electoral campaign by promising to secure special category status for Andhra Pradesh, claiming that the BJP-led central government has failed to fulfill its promises to the state. In a recent statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the Modi government of betraying Andhra Pradesh by not granting it special category status, a commitment purportedly made during the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act discussions in 2014.
According to Ramesh, the special category status would provide Andhra Pradesh with numerous financial benefits, including special central assistance grants, favorable financing for projects, and tax incentives designed to attract investments. These benefits are seen as critical for the state’s development, especially after the loss of Hyderabad to newly formed Telangana.
“The promise of special category status was not only made by our former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but also echoed by BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu who advocated for extending the status from five to ten years. Unfortunately, these promises were not met,” stated Ramesh in a post on X. He highlighted that the current Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, has also failed to advance this agenda, describing his efforts as ineffective.
This declaration comes as Andhra Pradesh prepares for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, with the Congress positioning itself as the only party capable of delivering justice to the state. The TDP’s fluctuating alliance with the BJP and subsequent fallout over this issue has also been a point of contention, as noted by Ramesh.
As the electoral battle heats up, the Congress party’s commitment to securing special category status for Andhra Pradesh is set to be a significant part of their platform, aiming to draw support from voters disappointed with the current and past administrations’ unfulfilled promises.