Prior to the Union Budget presentation, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to request increased financial support for the debt-burdened state.
During the meeting, Naidu emphasized the need for central assistance for various ongoing projects in Andhra Pradesh and presented a detailed memorandum outlining the state’s financial requirements and the reasons behind the demand for increased allocation.
TDP ministers from Andhra Pradesh were also in attendance. Naidu’s key demands included funds for the Polavaram irrigation project, special assistance for backward regions, and support for the development of the new capital, Amaravati.
He also sought resolution of pending issues stemming from the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. The meeting is significant as it comes just weeks before the presentation of the Union Budget 2024-25.
Sitharaman assured Naidu that she would look into Andhra Pradesh’s demands within the broader fiscal constraints and gave a patient hearing to his concerns. Naidu has been actively seeking increased central support to address the state’s financial challenges, as evidenced by his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union Ministers.
The Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party, with its 16 Lok Sabha MPs, is a crucial partner of the NDA supporting the Narendra Modi-led government.
