Congress calls TDP-BJP fallout over special status for Andhra 'match-fixing'

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday claimed that both the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party are not serious in withdrawing support over the tussle for special status for Andhra Pradesh. "What crisis? This is like match-fixing. They are still pretending to withdraw from the alliance. What would happen if two ministers resign? If you are serious do it seriously," Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said.

The Congress had earlier attempted to reach out to the TDP and extended support to its demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Renuka Chaudhary had then said: "The so-called ally (BJP) has gone back on their promise. This is exactly we expected. These people will never stand by their allies. It is a good thing that they (TDP) have now realised the real nature of them (BJP)."

BJP's estranged ally Shiv Sena, on the other hand, said that like N Chandrababu-led Naidu TDP, other parties will do the same as well. ''Shiv Sena had expected this. Other parties have walked out of NDA too. Allies no longer have good relations with BJP. Gradually their grudges will spill out and eventually they'll walk out of the alliance,'' senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.

The reactions are coming hours after the TDP announced its decision to pull out of the Centre over its refusal to grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had announced on Wednesday that two TDP ministers - P Ashok Gajapathi Raju (Civil Aviation) and YS Chowdary (Minister of State for Science and Technology) - will tender their resignations on Thursday.

Soon after, two BJP announced that two of its legislators from Andhra Pradesh - Kamineni Srinivas and Paidikondala Manikyala Rao - will resign from the state cabinet on Thursday.

BJP leader Krishna Sagar Rao called Naidu's announcement a 'political opportunism'. "BJP believes what has happened is a classic case of political opportunism and a case of compulsive politics," he said adding that Naidu's claiming that Centre is not standing up to support Andhra Pradesh is "a blatant lie".