Will give special status to AP if voted to power: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: After his return from Italy, Congress president Rahul Gandhi joined the protesting Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress leaders and said the “first thing” his party will do if voted to power in 2019 is give a special status to Andhra Pradhesh.

Speaking at Jantar Mantar, Mr Gandhi said, “We are for special category status for Andhra Pradesh. The first thing we will do when we come to power in 2019 is give the state special category status. I am confident that if we stand together, we will convince the Centre and PM Modi that what is due to people of state should be given.”

He later tweeted  that a united Opposition can force the Centre “to do justice to the people of Andhra Pradesh”.

The demand for a special status category was raised after erstwhile Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated. The protesters claim that the bifurcation caused a huge revenue deficit for the successor Andhra Pradesh.

Both Houses of Parliament have seen repeated adjournments with legislators from the state demanding a special status for Andhra Pradesh.

Though the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is part of the NDA government at the Centre, its leaders are protesting against the Central government for “neglecting Andhra Pradesh”.

Several other Opposition parties have also supported the demand being raised by legislators from Andhra Pradesh.

The Opposition YSR Congress Party has announced that all its five MPs would resign on April 6 if the demand was not met.

Insiders claim that there have been meetings also between senior ministers of the Central government and legislators from Andhra Pradesh, but till now no breakthrough has been achieved.

The first half of the Budget Session, which ended on February 9, was also marked by similar adjournments after protests by leaders from Andhra Pradesh.