Chandrababu Naidu: Special status Andhra’s right, will continue fight
Naidu said that in the last three-and-a-half years, Andhra Pradesh achieved a lot of growth, but it would have done much better had all the promises made in Parliament and assurances given in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, were fulfilled and implemented.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. (Express photo/Nirmal Harindran)
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Thursday said Special Category Status is the state’s right and that they will continue to fight for it. Speaking at the frame installation ceremony of the KIA motors plant at Yerramanchi village of Anantapur district, Naidu said that in the last three-and-a-half years, Andhra Pradesh achieved a lot of growth, but it would have done much better had all the promises made in Parliament and assurances given in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, were fulfilled and implemented.
This is the first time Naidu directly raised the special status issue after accepting the special package announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in September last year. As he spoke at the event, several persons, learnt to be YSRCP supporters, interrupted him, before security personnel took them away.
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“Special Category Status is our right and it should be given to us. We were assured of it but unfortunately many things have not been fulfilled or implemented. We fought for our rights and we will continue to fight until we get what is rightfully ours,’’ Naidu said.
The Chief Minister said that after the state’s bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh was given a raw deal and it is encountering problems. “It is the responsibility of the Centre to implement the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, and fulfil the promises made, including giving the Special Category Status to AP,’’ he said.
The ruling TDP has been forced to take a tough stand on the special category status issue after the Opposition YSRCP has stepped up its campaign.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
