Fulfill Bifurcation Promises, CM Chandrababu Urges Modi 

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Friday and urged him to fulfil
l
all the commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act
after bifurcation
.

The CM discussed with Modi unfulfilled promises under the Act and submitted a 17-page memorandum. The hour-long meeting assumes significance as it comes amid indications of strain in the relations between the TDP and its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Chandrababu, who met Modi after 18 months, appealed to the PM to take immediate steps on long pending issues in view of next year's elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assembly.

Distressed by the Centre's inaction over several unresolved issues pertaining to bifurcation of the state, the TDP has already conveyed its disappointment to the Centre. The party MPs met Modi on the last day of the winter session to submit their memorandum.

Among other requests, Naidu wanted the Centre to immediately sanction Rs 58,000 crore required for the Polavaram project. He explained to the PM about the importance of the project and the need for its completion before 2019 elections.

Chandrababu urged Modi to ensure that sufficient funds be allocated in the central budget for development of the new state capital Amaravati.

Chandrababu told Modi that Andhra Pradesh suffered huge losses due to bifurcation of the state as it had to face financial problems. He said further delay in fulfilling the commitments given in the Act will further aggravate the problems.

Increase In Assembly Seats

One of Chandrababu's main request to the PM was to increase the number of seats in the state Assembly from 175 to 225 as committed in the Reorganisation Act. He reminded Modi of the dues of Rs 3,000 crore from the Centre towards the expenditure incurred so far on Polavaram project and urged him to release the funds at the earliest.

Speaking to media later, Chandrababu Naidu said the Centre should totally fund the cost of the project, which has been declared a national project.