TDP’s exit from NDA ‘purely guided by political considerations’, says Amit Shah in letter to Chandrababu Naidu

BJP president Amit Shah has replied to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s letter to him following the Telugu Desam Party’s exit from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying the move was “purely guided wholly and solely by political considerations rather than developmental concerns.”

Mr. Naidu had cited neglect of his State’s demand for resources as the main reason for the exit.

The nine-page letter, dated March 23, was released on March 24 morning.

Mr. Shah’s general tone in the letter has been to point out how the BJP and the Central government had done its utmost to help the residual State of Andhra Pradesh but that Mr. Naidu and his party have ignored this for political calculations.

“You may recall that during the previous Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, when your party did not have adequate representation, it was the BJP that set the agenda and ensured that justice was done to hard-working Telugu people in both States,” he said.

After coming to power, the Centre has done more than its share of allotting funds and resources to Andhra Pradesh. “A perusal of these would reaffirm what you already know but do not admit — that the Central government has fulfilled its obligations and that the BJP is a genuine friend true well-wisher of the people of Andhra Pradesh,” he said. He then goes on to enumerate various allocations done for the State, including initiating action in five out of eight infrastructural projects mentioned in the Andhra Pradesh States Reorganisation Act.

Mr. Shah termed “fallacious” the Andhra Pradesh government’s claim of a revenue deficit of ₹16,000 crore for the financial year 2014-15 as it includes expenditure on farm loan waiver and pensions. “Our party-led State governments have made similar expenditure on loan waivers but from their own resources. The Central government cannot make these payments as they discriminate between States,” he said.

The BJP chief cited the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission that precludes the granting of Special Category Status to any State. He pointed to the fact that despite this allocation, gaps were sought to be filled with regard to Andhra Pradesh. “It is regrettable that some political parties are whipping up sentiments instead of engaging in informed debate,” he said.

“But unfortunately the joint mandate received by our two parties for the development of Andhra Pradesh is being squandered for political reasons,” he concluded.