Speaking to MyNation, Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao explained how YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy is planning to gain sympathy votes from the people of Andhra Pradesh by keeping the Special Category Status as a priority and forgetting the future development of the state.
Hyderabad: YSR Congress Party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday said that he is ready to work with any party, which would provide Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking to media, Jagan said that he would work with anybody, as long as they would give SCS and develop the new capital Amaravathi.
Jagan also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had done several good deeds, but did not fulfil the promises made to the state. The YSRCP leader said that Narendra Modi, just like Rahul Gandhi, betrayed the state.
However, Jagan said that he will forgive the Congress and that he wouldn't be averse to joining hands as far as the promise of SCS remained.
Speaking to MyNation, Andhra Pradesh Congress spokesperson Ambati Ramakrishna said, "Jagan must have categorically said that he will support UPA, because the BJP said that they would not give SCS to Andhra Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi, along with 14 UPA partners, came to Guntur and in a public event said that he (Rahul Gandhi) would implement SCS if they happen to come to power. And, if Congress government implements the status, the party would decide if they have to join hands or not."
Reacting to this, Telangana's BJP spokesperson, Krishna Sagar Rao said, "BJP clearly understands the fleeting mindset of Jagan. Realising that he would not get enough votes he planned for, he seems to keep his options open for the Congress. While it is an internal political posturing of Jagan, we don't think it will have an impact on the actual electoral situation on the ground in Andhra Pradesh. BJP has a developmental agenda, and we have been on the same agenda since 2014, and we will have the same in our manifesto for the development of Andhra Pradesh."
"We would not like to get entrapped in these sentimental issues Jagan and TDP are thriving on," Rao added.
The BJP also feels that this move of Jagan is to make sure that Congress would provide an operational leverage if Jagan falls short of the expected majority.
The 15th legislative Assembly elections of Andhra Pradesh will be held on April 11 concurrently with the 17th Lok Sabha elections. The fate of the state will be announced on May 23, 2019.
Last Updated Apr 6, 2019, 5:46 PM IST