In retaliation to the TDP pulling out of the NDA, two BJP ministers pulled out of the state cabinet on Thursday. Ministers Kamineni Srinivas (Medical and Health) and Manikyala Rao (endowments) said that it was a painful decision and submitted their resignations.
The ministers abstained from the cabinet meeting before the approval of the budget and submitted their resignation to the CM in the Assembly.
Srinivas said that it was a painful decision. In his resignation he wrote, “The recent developments are agonizing the people of the state. The differences and disagreements surfacing of late have pained every right thinking individual in the state.”
Speaking in the Assembly, Srinivas showered praises on the chief minister and thanked Chandrababu Naidu for giving the opportunity.
Earlier, speaking to media, he claimed that he was pained by the accusations made against Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, former BJP leader.
Manikyala Rao in his resignation letter wrote, “I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude to you Sir for having reposed utmost faith in me and having allowed me to discharge my duties sincerely. In view of the present political developments. I hereby tender my resignation from the Council of Minister.”
On Wednesday night, the TDP which is an ally of the BJP decided to withdraw two of its ministers from the Union cabinet, after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley made it clear that Andhra Pradesh will not get any Special Category Status.
Following this, an upset CM, Chandrababu Naidu announced that since the Centre did not honour their commitments his MPs had no purpose in continuing as union ministers.
“The purpose for which we put our members in the cabinet has failed, we're calling back our leaders," he said on Wednesday night.
He had expressed, “The Centre has been taking one sided decisions and our patience has run out now. When the purpose of joining the union cabinet hasn’t been fulfilled, it’s best to resign now.”