Naidu to fast for special status

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 10

Opposition parties will take another shot to demonstrate their unity against Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Monday by joining Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu’s one-day dharna to press for special category status for his state ahead of the General Election.

Less than a month ago, leaders of various political parties participated in a well-attended “United India” rally in Kolkata, which was organised by West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC president Mamata Banerjee in which they pledged to “oust Modi”.

TDP parliamentary party leader and Rajya Sabha member YS Chowdary said on Monday that Naidu will sit on dharna along with his party MPs, ministers, MLAs and students and employees, among others, from Andhra Pradesh. The CM would observe fast.

“The Chief Minister has been fighting with the Centre for a special category status,” said Chowdary, who was a minister in the Modi Cabinet before the TDP walked out of the NDA. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s media adviser T Srinivas said Naidu would lead a delegation to President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday over the special status issue.