Modi speaks to Naidu over Andhra issue, will meet two TDP ministers
New Delhi/Amaravati, Mar 8 (IBNS): Amid the political hue and cry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the latter's demands for a special status to the southeastern state, media reports said.
Modi will also meet two Telegu Desam Party (TDP) ministers in the NDA government, who are likely to quit following the order of their party chief Naidu.
In the meantime, two BJP ministers in the Chandrababu Naidu cabinet in Andhra Pradesh resigned on Thursday hours after the TDP decided to pull out of the central government, which is run by the BJP-led NDA.
Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas and Endowments Minister P Manikyala Rao put in their papers after meeting the Chief Minister.
The BJP move followed Chandrababu Naidu's announcement that Telugu Desam Party (TDP)'s ministers will resign from the NDA.
Naidu made the announcement just hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley expressed that it was difficult to give "special status" to Andhra Pradesh.
The decision was taken after Naidu met party lawmakers on Wednesday evening.
"As a first step, both our central ministers-civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and minister of state for science and technology Y S Chowdary- will resign from the Narendra Modi cabinet on Thursday morning,” Naidu told media.
He said decision on alliance with the BJP will be taken later.
Naidu also tweeted to inform that their purpose of joining the Central government has not been fulfilled.
" 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," Naidutweeted.
He said the decision to pull out minsters were taken for the benefit of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
"I am not angry with anyone. This decision has been taken only to benefit the people of Andhra Pradesh," he tweeted.
"I tried reaching out to the Prime Minister to inform him about our decision. But sadly, he was unavailable," he said.
Jaitley earlier in the day said his government is committed to giving Andhra Pradesh financial assistance equivalent to a special category state.
"We are committed to giving monetary equivalent to special status to Andhra Pradesh," Jaitley said.
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