Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Nara Chandrababu Naidu has stated that he would allocate one day in a week to work for Telangana.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Naidu is set to swear in as Chief Minister of the residual Andhra Pradesh near Nagarjuna University, Guntur on 8 June.
Participating in the Telangana Formation Day celebrations, organised by the TDP Telangana unit at the party headquarters NTR Bhavan in Hyderabad on Monday, Naidu said he would fight for the issues of Telangana and strengthen TDP there.
Naidu unfurled the National Flag, marking the formation of Telangana state, and paid homage to the martyrs of the Telangana state movement. Formation of Telangana was possible only due to a 60-year struggle and the sacrifices made by the martyrs, Naidu added.
The TDP chief recalled party founder NT Rama Rao and his work for the welfare of the Telugu people. He also recounted the welfare schemes implemented by NTR during his regime as Chief Minister.
Naidu also reminded the cordial relations NTR had with the late former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. When Rao contested from Nandyal Lok Sabha constituency, NTR did not field a TDP candidate, following a good tradition.
The CM-designate also praised the economic reforms Narasimha Rao brought in during his regime as PM, and stressed that he will request the Union government to build a memorial ghat for Narasimha Rao in Delhi.
TDP will be reorganised in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Naidu stated. A full-fledged party committee will be formed for Telangana, and TDP will be transformed into a national party to enable it to spread in other states, he added.
Naidu also said that he will take initiatives to press the Centre to give national irrigation project status to the Pranahita-Chevella projects in Telangana, on the lines of Polavaram dam in AP.
Naidu's Invitation to KCR
Naidu extended his greetings to K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) on assuming charge as the first Chief Minister of Telangana. He also wished the people of Telangana on the occasion. TDP would strive for the development of Telangana state, Naidu stated.
Naidu skipped KCR's swearing-in ceremony on Monday. It is said that Naidu was expecting a personal invitation from KCR, which he did not extend, and that was why he skipped the oath-taking of the Telangana CM.
Naidu, who spoke to KCR over the phone, extended a personal invitation for his swearing-in ceremony as the AP Chief Minister. Naidu also expressed his inclination to work with KCR for Telangana's development.
Other than KCR, Naidu has invited 10 other non-Congress Chief Ministers for his swearing-in ceremony.
Naidu has already invited Prime Minister Narendera Modi and the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Odisha, Nagaland and Gujarat for the function.
Invitations have also been extended to all the Union ministers, NDA partners and leaders of various parties in the State, including YSR Congress Party chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
