Special Status: Can Any Party Promise The Status?

Can any major party in Andhra Pradesh dare to touch the special status promise is a big debate now. TDP and BJP mentioned this in their manifesto and campaigned it extensively. With the public mandate, the alliance came to power.

Later the BJP dubbed special status as a finished episode and TDP questioned whether the special status is that important. The party even batted for the special package. It had to take a U-turn on this with YCP and other opposition parties criticizing the move. In 2019 YCP banked heavily on the special status promise. TDP also campaigned on the same promise.

However, people supported the YSRCP. When Jagan asked people for 25 MPs to fight for the special status, people gave 23 PMs to the party and supported it. But there has been no big fight for the demand in the past five years. There is criticism that the ruling YCP and opposition TDP forgot the crucial demand.

Newly appointed PCC Chief Sharmila is going to the public with special status demand for the state. Not just her, Chalasani Srinivas with Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samithi and JD Lakshmi Narayana with Jai Bharat National Party are raising the demand.

They are saying that special status cannot be achieved for AP unless the fight becomes a public movement. They want all the political parties to fight for the demand. However, YCP, TDP, and Janasena are highlighting other issues and not the special status.YCP is saying that it wants a weak alliance at the Centre and the special status cannot be achieved without this.

Many say that the TDP and Janasena which are showing interest in alliance with BJP are not even talking about the special status. What makes the 2024 elections crucial is that the third term in the divided AP would see the major parties not having the special status as the main agenda.

Political observers say that the special status promise lost the charm and craze among the people. Understanding this the political parties are not focusing on the demand as they feel the demand would not work out this time.