Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu on Monday came down heavily on the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi and said that the Delhi government's model of development was a failure and that people should vote for a party that can lead to inclusive growth.
Terming the AAP government in Delhi as a "half-engine Sarkar", Naidu said that what Delhi needed a "double-engine government" to ensure societal transformation. The term is often used by the BJP in it campaign for Assembly elections to suggest that its government in the state can work better with the Centre and ensure all-round development.
"Politicians have to always think about today, tomorrow and the future. A government with good public policy can transform society," Naidu said, adding that people in Delhi were worries about staying in the capital due to "weather and political pollution".
"Performance and better living standards are becoming more relevant now than ideology. Poor people in Delhi would have to think if they want to live permanently in slums," he added.
Addressing an election rally in Delhi's Shahdara, Naidu sought to draw parallels between AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal and YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Latching on to the BJP's 'Shheshmahal' line of attack against Kejriwal over the allegedly exorbitant expenses incurred in remodeling the Delhi CM's official residence, Naidu criticized lavish spending on CM's houses at the people's cost and said Delhi should vote out AAP in Delhi "the way Andhra Pradesh voted Jagan Reddy out".
During his address while campaigning for the BJP in Delhi, Naidu also addressed the Opposition's criticism of Andhra Pradesh getting a raw deal in the Union Budget presented on February 1 and said that the TDP backs the Centre on the Budget since it aligns with the aim of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
"We are in agreement with them. We are happy. It syncs with our 10 principles of growth," he said. Earlier, Naidu had thanked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for a "pro-people and progressive Budget".
"This budget reflects the vision for a Viksit Bharat under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji. It prioritises the welfare of women, the poor, youth, and farmers, while also identifying six key sectors for growth over the next five years. The budget marks a significant step towards national prosperity. It serves as a comprehensive and inclusive blueprint, promising a prosperous future for our country. Additionally, it brings tax relief for the middle class, the backbone of our country's economy. I welcome this budget."
Notably, Naidu and the TDP came under fire from the Opposition which questioned the Centre's largesse for Bihar, where polls are due this year, while big announcements were missing for Andhra.
"Bihar appears to have got a bonanza of announcements. It is natural since elections are due there later in the year. But why has the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?" Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.
YSR Congress Party also came down heavily on the ruling government and said that CM Naidu had failed to mount pressure on the Centre to secure more funds for Andhra and the advantage went to Bihar.
"Chandrababu should explain why Bihar, with 12 MPs, received more sops while the TDP, with 16 MPs, lagged," YSRCP leader Rajendranath Reddy told media. "With your support, the central government has been formed, but what did Andhra Pradesh get? You are neither telling us what we received nor expressing sadness over not receiving anything," he said.
Naidu's TDP is a key BJP ally at the Centre along with Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and proved decisive in the formation of the NDA government at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Lok Sabha elections last year.
The BJP fell short of a majority on its own and needed the support of the TDP's 16 MPs and the JD(U)'s 12 MPs to form a government.
Notably, the Modi 3.0 government's first Budget presented in July had several allocations for Andhra Pradesh. This year, the government's allocation of around Rs 6,000 crore for Naidu's pet Polavaram Irrigation project was apparently the only substantial decision in the Budget pertaining to Andhra Pradesh.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
