As the Monsoon Session of Parliament starts this Monday, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a constituent of the BJP-led NDA government, is intervening with a carefully crafted plan to see that Andhra Pradesh’s issues are strongly addressed. To prepare the ground, Chief Minister and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu convened a top-level meeting of the party’s MPs to finalize their game plan for the session.
The session, where Minister Nara Lokesh, Union Ministers Ram Mohan Naidu and Dr. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, and other MPs were present, was to discuss the way in which important state-related matters could be raised in Parliament. Chandrababu directed party members to strongly argue for pending central funds and get the projects that have languished for years to be completed.
A nine-point detailed agenda was placed before the MPs, with key priorities like the Banakacharla irrigation scheme, aerospace industry development, the planned Space City, and the pending Polavaram project. The Chief Minister asked his MPs to strongly urge the Centre to provide enough finances to take these projects ahead. He also stressed the importance of acquiring more foreign investments into Andhra Pradesh and also approaching the Centre with requests for industrial development cooperation.
One of the key topics to be brought up in Parliament is the proposed Quantum Valley in Amaravati. Chandrababu believes that by discussing this innovative project in the national forum, Andhra Pradesh can gain greater visibility as a hub for future technologies. He directed TDP Parliamentary Party leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu to ensure that the issue gets the attention it deserves during the session.
In a strong political move, Chandrababu also called on his MPs to expose the YSR Congress Party’s alleged derogatory remarks and smear campaigns targeting women leaders in the state. He stressed that such behaviour should be condemned in Parliament to hold those responsible accountable on a national level.
Additionally, he underlined the need to highlight issues such as the stalling of development of Amaravati and the plight of mango growers in Andhra Pradesh. He indicated that these issues are being raised in Parliament to enable increased central funding. The Chief Minister also requested special financial packages for backward districts and additional support under schemes such as MGNREGA to provide livelihood opportunities for rural people.
Chandrababu ended by requesting MPs to bring out the successful implementation of various Central government initiatives in Andhra Pradesh. He proposed this to be used as a bargaining chip to seek additional support, highlighting the efficient governance of the state and its coordination with national objectives.
