advertisement
A day after the Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, threatened to break ties with the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, on Wednesday, 7 March, said it was an “expected” move and allies no longer hold good relations with the BJP, ANI reported.
The latest developments came after the Modi government ruled out Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh. However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley pacified the lawmakers by announcing a special package for the state instead.
“It was predictable from the Naidu government’s working style that it will not stay in alliance with the NDA like we have said in the past. Our 2019 fight will be alone,” the MP said.
Raut stated that Shiv Sena has been the oldest party with the NDA and has always brought forward their concerns, if not their disenchantment. Smaller parties like Majhi have also broken ties with the party, Raut added.
“Practically, everyone will come out of NDA.”
Even before the TDP-NDA fallout, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray had clarified his stance, said party leader Manisha Kayande. The leader signalled that the road to 2019 would be a tough one for the BJP.
Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary will tender their resignations as well, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said, reported ANI.
In a scathing attack at the Centre, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said pulling out the two ministers does not send a strong message. She told ANI, “What crisis? This is like match fixing. They are still pretending to withdraw (from the alliance). What would happen if two ministers resign? If you are serious then do it seriously.”
(With inputs from ANI)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)