Describing as dull and dud the representation made by the Andhra Pradesh Government before the 14th Finance Commission, YSR Congress has said State interests should take a precedence over political interests and the Chief Minister ought to be more dynamic and assertive than playing the blame game.
‘The Chief Minister should have been very assertive and seek more funds surpassing the indicators of development instead of blaming the previous governments for the bad shape of economy and the State being pushed backward. It was the political interests that has come to the fore before the Finance Commission and not the State interests,” Party spokesperson Tammineni Sitaram told reporters here on Friday.
It is not fair on part of Chandrababu Naidu to blame the previous governments for the State economy, instead, he should have bargained hard as he is part of the NDA coalition and seek more funds and mount pressure putting forth the argument that the indicators of development like literacy rate, GDP and population control should be relaxed for the newly formed State.
“On the contrary, he was trying to pass the buck to the previous governments before the Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission of India, YV Reddy. We strongly oppose this and the Party will submit its own version to the Commission,” he said.
The State should seek more funds due to the special circumstances post division, setting aside the parameters of the Commission vis-à-vis other states. Chandrababu Naidu opted for a political plank even while seeking funds from Centre putting aside the state interests. He did not get a single assurance from the Centre after assuming office.
He should have asked to give 50 % share of taxes collected in the State and such sops which would put the economy on a vibrant mode. But he has one version of converting the state in Singapore and other such mirages for public consumption and to officials he has a different version of a economy-in-dire-straits which shows his double standards, Sitaram said.
“We will be in the forefront and take up the people’s cause and will place state interests ahead of political interests unlike TDP,” he said.