Demanding that Andhra Pradesh be accorded a ‘special status’, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh chief-minister Chandrababu Naidu is sitting on a day-long fast today (Friday) on the eve of his 68th birthday (20th April) at Amaravati.

The TDP was in alliance with the BJP-led NDA during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls where the BJP swept to power on its own strength riding on a ‘Modi wave’.  Later, the BJP took part in the State Govt. led by Naidu while the TDP was given two important portfolios in the Union Cabinet.  Things, however, started getting sour between the allies for the past many months.

TDP thought it would be a ‘cakewalk’ in getting ‘special status’ granted to the State of Andhra Pradesh as the BJP was its ally.  However, the BJP-led Centre neither made any announcement in this regard nor made special provisions for the State when the fiscal budget for 2018-19 was presented in Parliament a couple of months back.  Naidu asked the two TDP ministers to quit the Union Cabinet even as the BJP distanced itself from the TDP as its ministers quit Naidu’s Cabinet in the State.

TDP and YSR congress MPs have been stalling Parliament proceedings for the past many weeks (along with AIADMK MPs albeit for various reasons) demanding the special status to the State.  As announced earlier, Naidu is sitting on a day-long fast at Amaravati (which would be AP’s capital in 8 years from now).  Several MLAs and cabinet colleagues are giving company to the 68-year old chief-minister in his fast.