CM Naidu Seeks Increased Funding for Andhra Pradesh in Meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Sources reported that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah late Tuesday night and requested substantial fund allocations in the upcoming Union Budget to address the state's financial challenges.

During the meeting at Shah's residence, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president emphasized the ongoing financial difficulties Andhra Pradesh faces due to the "unjust bifurcation" in 2014 and the previous administration's "miserable governance."

Naidu, who arrived in the national capital on Tuesday evening for a two-day visit, is scheduled to meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday to discuss the state's financial needs further. A meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also anticipated, according to sources.

The Andhra Pradesh government data indicates a troubling trend in the state's fiscal health, with public debt rising from 31.02 percent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2019-20 to 33.32 percent in 2023-24, reflecting a deterioration over the past five years. This marks Naidu's second trip to Delhi in nearly a fortnight. On July 4, he presented a seven-point development agenda to the Prime Minister to address the state's post-bifurcation challenges.

Naidu's push for increased funding follows a similar move by JD(U) national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, who met with Sitharaman on Monday seeking higher allocations for Bihar in the upcoming Budget.

Both TDP and JD(U) are key constituents of the BJP-led NDA, with TDP leveraging its coalition partnership to advocate for Andhra Pradesh's financial needs ahead of Union Budget 2024.

During his previous visit to Delhi, Naidu also held discussions with Shah and other Union ministers, including Sitharaman, to underscore the urgency of the state's financial requirements.