After Slicing Telugu Land Into Two, Congress’ President Rahul Gandhi Promises Andhra ‘Special Status’

Addressing a rally in Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh (AP), Congress president Rahul Gandhi promised that his party would provide special category status to Andhra Pradesh if voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, reports Times of India.

He also expressed surprise that the regional parties had failed to aggressively push the issue of special status to the centre.

The issue of special status not being accorded to Andhra Pradesh after its carving out of the previous larger state is a contentious issue which all regional parties are said to be championing to their potential voters.

Addressing the rally in Andhra Pradesh, which is set for simultaneous Assembly and general elections, Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having “destroyed” and “dismantled” the pillars of MGNREGA and Food Security Act which he claimed were the “hallmark” poverty eradication schemes, without delving into any explanation about the same in his 30-minute speech.

For Gandhi, whose party is contesting the polls in Andhra Pradesh without any alliances with TDP or any other regional party, the Vijaywada rally was his first in the state so far.