Patibandla Srinivas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy assumed political significance in the two Telugu States.
Earlier, the two former Chief Ministers K Chandrasekhar Rao and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy met several times but could not resolve the long-pending issues. Now the two CMs have finalized a plan to resolve the long- pending issues with the cooperation of the Centre.
According to sources, it is the first meeting of the Prime Minister to resolve the pending issues of the AP Reorganization Act. Several unresolved issues and other demands were pending with the Centre for the last 10 years though the stipulated period ended for including the common capital Hyderabad on June 2.
The Telugu States may get a solution mainly for the distribution of assets. As per the estimations, the two states have joint assets worth Rs 1.42 lakh crore and the distribution of assets will be a major advantage to the Telugu States, especially AP.
The Centre’s formal approval and its involvement are required along with the two State governments’ decision.
The Andhra Pradesh government needs funds for several issues such as Amaravati capital construction and completion of Polavaram project along other financial burdens owing to the previous government’s misrule.
Telangana State is also facing a funds crunch due to the previous KCR government’s fiscal mismanagement in dealing with various irrigation projects and welfare schemes.
Telangana government is badly in need of funds to implement the loan waiver schemes this August.
Both the Chief Ministers have a good relationship though they belong to two different parties. It may be recalled that Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also worked in TDP for most part of his political career in the past. Against this backdrop, the meeting of the two Chief Ministers assumed political significance