After weeks of speculation, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) quit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), citing 'injustice' to Andhra Pradesh over the Centre's failure to fulfill promises made during the state's bifurcation.
The party's politburo on Friday took the decision of pulling out of the alliance. The TDP is also expected to move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had earlier said that the motion would only be moved as a 'last resort'.
Speaking to TNM, a senior TDP leader said, "Our party leader took the decision one hour ago after consulting all MLAs and MPs along with Politiburo members. TDP is considering to move a separate no-confidence motion against the NDA government and our MPs are working towards that. They will meet the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha and initiate the process to the move the motion."
TDP Rajya Sabha MP YS Chowdary told IANS: "Yes our party (TDP) has pulled out of the alliance with the NDA."
This comes after weeks of escalating tensions between the two parties, set off by the Union Budget presented in the Parliament during the first part of the Budget Session.
The TDP has been disrupting Parliament proceedings since the budget was presented, stating the state had not been given the due it was promised when Telangana was created.
Last week, the TDP withdrew its two Central Ministers P Ashok Gajapathi Raju (Civil Aviation) and YS Chowdary (Minister of State for Science and Technology) from the government, protesting the refusal of the Centre to oblige its demands for grant of special category status to Andhra Pradesh along with some other benefits.
BJP ministers Kamineni Srinivas (Medical and Health) and P. Manikyala Rao (Endowments) also resigned from the Chandrababu Naidu government the same day.
However, the resigning union ministers said that the TDP would continue to be part of the BJP-led NDA government but none of its members would hold ministerial positions.
With the TDP refusing to budge, this week, the Central government informed the Parliament that Rs 12,476.76 crore had already been sanctioned to Andhra Pradesh as 'special assistance', which included an amount of Rs 2,500 crore for constructing the state's capital city of Amaravati.
Union minister of state for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, said that the Centre had been fulfilling all the provisions made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
However, the assurance doesn’t seemed to have satisfied the TDP, which has decided to leave the NDA coalition.
The TDP has also decided to quit the coalition on the same day that YSR Congress Party, the principal opposition party in the state, on Thursday submitted a notice to move a no-confidence motion against the NDA government in Lok Sabha.
The party alleged that the Central government has gone back on the commitment made in the Parliament that Andhra Pradesh will be accorded the special category status.
IANS inputs