Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu to Lobby for Increased Budget Allocation in Delhi
New Delhi, [Current Date]: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to meet Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday to advocate for a larger share of funds for his state in the upcoming Union Budget, slated for presentation in Parliament on July 23.
Currently on a two-day visit to the national capital, Naidu met with Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday to discuss Andhra Pradesh’s urgent financial requirements, citing the state’s precarious economic condition.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Naidu underscored the severe financial challenges facing Andhra Pradesh, attributing them to economic mismanagement and corruption during the previous administration. He presented findings from four White Papers highlighting substantial debt accrued between FY 2019-24, which he asserted had severely impacted the state’s fiscal health.
During his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, sources revealed that Naidu emphasized the lingering repercussions of Andhra Pradesh’s division in 2014 and criticized the governance shortcomings of the former regime.
Sources further indicated that Naidu is also expected to seek an audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Delhi visit. This trip marks his second visit to the capital in recent weeks, following his presentation of a comprehensive development agenda to Prime Minister Modi on July 4, aimed at addressing post-bifurcation challenges faced by the state.
Naidu’s efforts for enhanced funding echo similar appeals made by Sanjay Kumar Jha, the national working president of JD(U), who met Finance Minister Sitharaman earlier this week to advocate for increased budgetary allocation to Bihar.
Both the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and JD(U) are crucial allies within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and are leveraging their alliance to secure greater financial support for their respective states in the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25.
