Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is on a two-day visit to Delhi, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, July 4, for a 20-minute discussion. During this meeting, Naidu urged the Prime Minister to allocate a separate budget for Andhra Pradesh and to prioritize the state in various ministerial projects. He also met with Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and several other ministers.
Key Demands from CM Chandrababu Naidu
Chief Minister Naidu, a key player in the NDA government, is aware that Andhra Pradesh is unlikely to receive special state status. Therefore, he has shifted his focus to securing a special package for the state. According to sources, Naidu highlighted that Andhra Pradesh is burdened with a debt of Rs 13 lakh crore, a situation he attributes to the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy government, which failed to develop infrastructure in the state. He urged the Modi government to release the pending funds for the Polavaram irrigation project.
A major demand from Naidu is the development of Amaravati as the state’s capital, for which he seeks financial support from the central government. He emphasized that with adequate assistance, the capital development could be expedited. Additionally, Naidu requested a special package for the rapid development of roads, dams, bridges, and irrigation projects in the state. He pointed out the need for a comprehensive project for Andhra Pradesh, similar to the special package provided to Bundelkhand.
Meetings with Key Ministers
After meeting with Prime Minister Modi, Naidu held discussions with Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, presenting blueprints for several highway development projects in the state and requesting funding. He then met with Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to discuss agricultural projects. It is expected that Naidu will continue his meetings with other ministers on July 5, advocating for special schemes and support for Andhra Pradesh from various ministries.
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