Contrast in the attitude of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments towards the BJP government at the Centre is stark. While the YSRCP government is almost openly supporting the Centre, TRS is pitching for a fight. The election of Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha on September 14 brings these differences in attitude into focus once again. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu conducted the election through voice vote. BJP-led NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan won the election.
TRS boycotted the Deputy Chairman election, party MPs said they were staying away from the polls in protest against the Centre’s attitude towards the state, including non-payment of GST dues and corona assistance. They said they would not vote for their arch rival Congress, hence they were boycotting the election altogether.
The pink party has also drawn out a clear strategy to be adopted during this session. It has decided to point out the injustice meted out to the state by the Centre and expose the utter lack of support to the state in dealing with the pandemic as well as delay in passing on GST dues.
AP on different path
The YSRCP is going to adopt a different route in Parliament. Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy reportedly told his MPs to behave carefully in the House and see that works are done without irritating or embarrassing the BJP government.
YSRCP members want to be cautious on issues like Special Category Status (SCS) to the state. They are saying that they will act as a friendly-party of BJP, not as an opposition party. But other parties are expressing surprise at the completely different paths the two parties in power in the two Telugu states are adopting, instead of fighting unitedly for the interests of the Telugu people.
One cannot say for sure that those who chose to confront will lose and those who are submissive will be rewarded by the Centre. TRS earlier expressed its support to AP in its fight for SCS. Now it suggested that YSRCP can push for the SCS with the support of the TRS in Parliament.
Observers are suggesting that a united action by the two states will be more useful for the two states and its people rather than different approaches dictated by self-interests.
