Nellore: Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu threw an open challenge at opposition chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to convince Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to include the grant of a special category status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh in the federal front manifesto.

Naidu was responding to Jagan’s assertion at an election rally in Prakasam district that the YSRCP would achieve SCS to Andhra in return for allies with other parties.

Jagan Mohan Reddy had also said that he was confident of winning all 25 MP seats and would then join hands with the TRS, which, he was certain would win in Telangana.

Reddy then went on to say they would form a ‘hung government’.

Chandrababu Naidu reminded the people that it was the Congress which had committed in its manifesto to grant SCS to Andhra Pradesh soon after coming to power.

Naidu alleged that Jagan was deceiving people of Andhra by joining the TRS.

Furthermore, Naidu alleged that the BJP had ruled out SCS and the TRS was not working for the interests of the state on various issues.

Chandrababu had stated that the first phase of the Veligonda project would be completed before the monsoon and lamented that water for the project may not be accessible, if the TRS had its way. 

Naidu also alleged that welfare schemes and development projects would come to a standstill if the TDP didn’t remain in power.

Meanwhile in Vijayawada, YSRCP Jagan Mohan Reddy trashed Chandrababu Naidu while campaigning and claimed that people would be left cheated if they voted for the Telugu Desam Party.

Jagan alleged that welfare schemes and development programmes to be taken up by the YSRC if it is voted to power.