Suresh Prabhu Takes Charge of Aviation After TDP Minister Quits
The TDP’s move is a reaction to Arun Jaitley ruling out the special category status for Andhra Pradesh.
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Commerce and Industry Minister and BJP MP Suresh Prabhu was given additional charge of Civil Aviation on 10 March, two days after Ashok Gajapathi Raju resigned from the post.
Raju’s exit came as a part of his party, the Telugu Desam Party, withdrawing from the NDA government at the Centre in protest of Andhra Pradesh being denied a ‘special category status’. On 8 March, TDP MP YS Chowdary had also stepped down as the MoS for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences.
- The President of India directed cabinet minister Suresh Prabhu to take charge of Civil Aviation after TDP’s Gajapathi Raju resigned from his position
TDP ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdary submitted their resignation letters during a meeting with PM Modi on 8 March - Addressing a press conference, YS Chowdary said that the TDP “will continue to be a part of the NDA, but not take up any ministerial positions”
- Prior to the resignation, PM Modi had spoken to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu
- On 8 March, BJP ministers K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao resigned from the Andhra cabinet
- The TDP move comes after Arun Jaitley ruled out a special category status for Andhra Pradesh, offering a special package for the state instead
Suresh Prabhu to Take Charge of Civil Aviation Ministry
President Ram Nath Kovind vested Minister of Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu with the additional charge of the Civil Aviation ministry, in consultation with the Prime Minister.
The President’s office tweeted that Prabhu has been directed to take up the charge of Civil Aviation in addition to his existing portfolio.
President Accepts TDP Resignations; Civil Aviation Min Now Under PM
The Rashtrapati Bhawan has said that the President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignations of Union Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdhary.
Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that the work of the Ministry of Civil Aviation will be looked after by the Prime Minister.
TDP Ministers Address the Media After Resignation
Addressing the media after submitting his resignation, TDP's YS Chowdary said that they “will continue to be a part of the NDA, but not take up any ministerial positions”.
“I don't think there is anything wrong in that,” he added.
When asked about the possibility of the BJP allying with the YSR Congress Party, Chowdary said, "That is between those two parties, we have nothing to say on that, you can ask them."
Two TDP Union Ministers Resign, Submit Resignation Letters to PM Modi
The two TDP Union Ministers, who were directed on 7 March to resign, submitted their resignation letters during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 March.
TDP Ministers' Meeting With PM Modi Ends; Press Conference at 6:45 PM
The meeting of the two TDP ministers with PM Modi has ended, and they are scheduled to address a press conference at 6:45 pm, reported CNN-News 18.
TDP Ministers Reach PM Modi’s Residence
The two Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs in the Union Cabinet, Ashok Gajapati Raju and YS Chowdary arrived at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reported ANI.
PM Modi Speaks to Naidu, Will Meet Two TDP Ministers at 6 pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday, 8 March, a day after the latter talked about his grievances with the NDA.
Moreover, the two TDP Union ministers, who were directed by Naidu on 7 March to submit their resignations, will meet PM Modi at 6 pm on Thursday.
Chandrababu Naidu Took a Historical Step: Manoj Jha
Questioning Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD spokesperson told ANI: “C Naidu took a historical step. Why did our CM take a step back?A letter was written to him to create pressure over issue of special status to Bihar. This is much needed especially with the kind of disparities here. CM should muster up at least 1 percent of Naidu's courage”.
Congress and BJP Have Not Lived Upto Expectations: K T Rama Rao
Pitching for a stronger multi-party system in India, Telangana's Information Technology Minister KT Rama Rao told ANI, “This country is not about two parties, India is not a bipolar country. It has a multi-party system and a strong regional party network too. There is good possibility of a third alternative or it could be the only alternative.”
Want to Submit Resignation to PM, Not Discuss: Gajapathi Raju
Dismissing all possibilities of dialogue, Civil Aviation Minister from TDP Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the TDP lawmakers wanted to meet the PM to submit their resignation and not discuss the matter.
He told ANI: “We are asking for an appointment with Prime Minister not for having a discussion about this problem, but to handover our resignations and thank him for allowing us to work in his team”.
He further said: “Let us not get confused. When the state of Andhra Pradesh was made, the people did not want to be treated as a residue material. There were some assurances made. UPA govt made some commitments, now these commitments are the questions”.
Arun Jaitley Discriminating Against Andhra: Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, while speaking at the budget session, said, “These ministers worked good in the state. They brought considerable reforms in their departments. I thank them for their services.”
Accusing Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley of “discrimination”, he said:
This Is Like Match-Fixing: Renuka Chowdhury
Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said pulling out two ministers does not send a “serious” 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 do it seriously.”
Naidu Must Rethink His Decision: Ramdas Athawale
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu must rethink his decision. He told ANI: “It is not good that TDP has decided to breakaway from with NDA. Want to appeal to Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu that he must think over this decision once again for development of people of AP, they should stay with NDA”.
Two BJP Ministers Resign from Naidu's Cabinet
BJP Ministers in Andhra Pradesh cabinet, K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao, submitted their resignation in the CM office in Amaravati.
Allies No Longer Hold Good Relations With BJP: Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said it was an “expected” move and that allies do not hold good relations with BJP. He told ANI: “Shiv Sena had expected this. Other parties have walked out of NDA too. Allies no longer have good relations with BJP. Gradually their grudges will spill out and eventually they'll walk out of alliance”.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande also told ANI, “Even before TDP, Uddhav Ji had clarified his stance. Two ministers from TDP are about to resign, BJP should've thought about it. Former NDA leaders had kept the alliance together. Now it's overconfident. 2019 will be challenging for BJP”.
No State Has Received as Many Favours as Andhra Pradesh: Madhav
BJP MLC PVN Madhav said Andhra Pradesh has received the maximum favours from the Centre. He told ANI: “Decided that our ministers will resign from TDP Cabinet. We will be going to the people and telling them all the things”.
“The Centre has done for the state. Since independence till date, no state has received as many favours as that were given to Andhra Pradesh,” he told reporters.
Likely to Meet PM: YS Chowdary Ahead of Stepping Down
Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary called the decision “unfortunate” but “unavoidable”.
'Unfortunate That Modi Was Not Available for Such an Important Matter': Congress
Commenting on PM Modi’s unavailability, Congress leader Ahmed Patel told ANI: “It is very unfortunate that the Prime Minister couldn’t take the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s phone call on such an important matter. This doesn’t augur well for the interest of the people of Andhra Pradesh.”
"Will See How BJP Reacts to Our Decision": Naidu
Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said he would give the BJP time to react, before deciding on whether or not to pull out from the NDA alliance. The interests of the people of Andhra Pradesh are important, not the posts, he said.
Following an emergency press conference late on 7 March, the CM tweeted that it was a “crucial time” and the decisions have been taken for the “benefit” of the people of the state. He also added that he was not “angry” with anyone.
'Govt Ready to Give AP Special Package, Not Special Status': Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, on 7 March, ruled out granting Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh but said the government was ready to give monetary equivalent of the same in the form of a special package.
"Government is ready to give monetary equivalent of the special status to Andhra Pradesh. Instead of calling it special status, we're calling it a special package," Jaitley said.
He said that while the concept of special status states existed when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated, after the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations the status was constitutionally restricted to the North-East and three hilly states.
Naidu said Jaitley's announcement was the "last straw" for the TDP to take a call about withdrawing the party ministers from the Modi cabinet . He maintained that Jaitley’s statement was “nothing but insulting” to the people of Andhra Pradesh.
'Classic Case of Political Opportunism', BJP Reacts to Naidu Presser
BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao called Naidu’s press conference a “classic case of political opportunism”
BJP Ministers in Naidu Govt to Quit
In reaction, the two BJP ministers in the Naidu government, K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao, announced their decision to quit on 7 March, reported PTI.
'Responsibility to Inform PM That 2 of Our Ministers Are Resigning'
Referring to the resignation of TDP’s Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdary as Union Ministers, Naidu said:
'Deeply Hurt by What Jaitley Said Today': Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that “he was deeply hurt by what Arun Jaitley said”, reported CNN-News 18.
Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdary to Resign As Union Ministers
Addressing a press conference, Chandrababu Naidu directed TDP's Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdary to resign as Union Ministers.
Speaking on the special category-status for Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said:
He added that he visited Delhi 29 times, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and central ministers, and requested them to their fulfill our demands. “People have trusted me and voted me thinking that I will develop the state. People should also understand that I visited them (Centre) 29 times over the issue, but they didn’t pay heed. We made all efforts to convince them. I remained patient for four years. As they failed to honour that, we’re thinking at least we will exit respectfully,” Naidu said at the press con.
'Issue Between BJP and TDP Has Come to a Climax': TDP MP
An NDTV report, citing sources, said two ministers of the TDP would be stepping down from the central government. Moreover, according to ABP News, Naidu is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
A TDP MP, Naramalli Sivaprasad, who has been protesting inside the Parliament demanding special-category status for Andhra Pradesh, said on 7 March that the issue between the BJP and his party has come to a "climax" and Naidu would soon take a call on the alliance.
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Published: 07 Mar 2018,10:49 PM IST