Amid strained ties between the BJP and the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh, a delegation of TDP MPs along with Union Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdary met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.
The meeting was held after the TDP, a key ally of the BJP, decided to raise the issue of "injustice" to Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget 2018-19, in the Parliament.
According to reports, Singh said that he would convey the feelings of the Andhra Pradesh leaders to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ensure that their concerns were addressed.
The TDP members refused to disclose details of the meeting, to the media, indicating that party chief and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would address reporters later.
Despite wide speculation that the two parties would snap ties, the TDP said earlier this week, that it had decided to continue with the NDA.
In the high-level Parliamentary party meeting held on Sunday in Amaravati which lasted for over two hours, Naidu asked MPs to mount pressure on the Centre by disrupting the parliamentary proceedings, even if they face a possible suspension.
Speaking to the media, YS Chowdary stated that MPs will try to mount pressure on the Centre to honour all commitments made to the state during the time of bifurcation.
He said that the Centre should immediately address key issues, including the release of funds under the special assistance measure announced last year, funds for the Polavaram project, assistance to build new state capital Amaravati and setting up of a railway zone in Visakhapatnam.
Before the meeting, several TDP leaders openly declared their dislike for BJP and wanted TDP to break the alliance. However, Naidu asked them to hold back, and made it clear the party will not break the coalition.
Speculations about the rift between the TDP and BJP began after the state didn’t find any mention in the Union Budget, irking both the people of Andhra and the ministers.