The decision taken by the Andhra Pradesh cabinet headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu to take to legal recourse against the Centre over the non-fulfilment of assurances mentioned in Parliament, including granting of special category status to the state appears to be more of a political one rather than an attempt to bring benefits to the state.
The Naidu government might achieve very little by filing a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court, as the Centre has strong points to defend its decision in not granting special category status.
With regard to the implementation of the Act, too, both the state and central governments have no option but to stick to their stands. The court cannot give any direction based on the arguments and counter arguments.
Even if it does, it would take a long time for the court to decide who is right and who is wrong. In the meantime, it will be election time and both the Telugu Desam Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party would only try to gain political mileage by attacking and counter-attacking on the streets.
On its part, the TDP is trying to make use of its affidavit to project in the people that it was fighting with the Centre in all possible ways – agitations, deekshas, snapping ties with the NDA and now legal battle.
And Naidu wants to highlight the same in the ongoing monsoon session of the state assembly commencing shortly.
“We are not going to leave any opportunity to expose the Centre’s indifferent attitude towards the state,” a TDP leader said.
