YSRCP demands CM to seek Special Category Status for AP

Former MLA and YSRCP leader TJR Sudhakar Babu demanded that the government secure all rights due to the state. Speaking to the media on Friday, he questioned why CM Chandrababu Naidu is not demanding special category status (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Sudhakar Babu noted that it has been a month since the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) came to power. He pointed out that people are still waiting for the implementation of TDP’s alliance poll promises and urged for the fulfilment of all these promises.
Welcoming the meeting between Chandrababu Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Ministers, Sudhakar Babu stressed the importance of achieving every right from the Centre, including SCS. He claimed that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had kept the issue of SCS alive over the past five years by continuing to demand it during every visit to Delhi. He questioned why Chandrababu Naidu is not raising the issue, especially when his NDA colleague Nitish Kumar is demanding SCS for his state. Sudhakar Babu emphasized that people believe Naidu has the influence to secure SCS now and urged him to pressure the Modi government to grant it to Andhra Pradesh.
Sudhakar Babu criticized CM Chandrababu Naidu for mentioning the state’s financial deficit but failing to address the issue of SCS during his recent visit to Delhi. He also asked for national status for the Polavaram project and the release of funds for infrastructure development and industrial assistance. He asserted that SCS is the key to regaining Andhra Pradesh’s strength and called on Naidu to follow Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s example in demanding SCS.
Sudhakar Babu also objected to the alleged discrimination by the ruling Telugu Desam Party in implementing the Rs. 7,000 social security pension (Rs. 4,000 regular + hiked Rs. 1,000 for three months). He claimed that Dalits who supported YSRCP in the elections were denied the increased pensions. He recalled that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government did not show bias in providing welfare benefits and urged the TDP government to offer welfare to all on a saturation basis.