Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has reportedly decided to ignore an invitation for talks from Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Jaitley extended the invitation to Naidu to discuss contentious issues between the state and the Centre, like granting Special Category Status (SCS) and other funds for projects in Andhra Pradesh.
According to reports, Naidu was informed of the invite during his daily teleconference with TDP MPs over the issues going on in Parliament.
However, in response, Naidu said that it would be wrong to meet Jaitley in his chambers in New Delhi at such a time, when the TDP had recently left the NDA coalition.
“There is no need to meet any Union minister at this point. If they come face to face, just greet them and go on. Let us have healthy relations with everyone, but continue to fight for our state’s causes,” Naidu was quoted as saying.
Giving a new turn to the political impasse in Parliament, the Congress on Friday gave notice of No-Confidence motion in the Lok Sabha as both the Houses failed to transact any business for the third consecutive week.
"This House expresses no confidence in the Council of Ministers," read the notice tabled by Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Congress in the Lower House.
Already, the TDP and YSR Congress Party have filed notices for no-confidence motion against the government over the issue of special category status for Andhra Pradesh, but they have not been taken up due to continued disruption of the House.
The AIADMK and the TRS have been paralysing the House with protests, pressing for their demands for setting of Cauvery Water Management Board and an increase in the reservation quota for jobs in Telangana.
Earlier this month, the TDP pulled out of NDA over the latter's refusal to accord special category to Andhra Pradesh and fulfill other commitments made at the time of state's division in 2014.
IANS inputs