Naidu Presses Sitharaman for Enhanced Financial Aid Ahead of Union Budget

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced financial support for his debt-burdened state. Key demands included funds for the Polavaram project and the development of Amaravati. The meeting took place ahead of the Union Budget 2024-25.

Days before the Union Budget presentation, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging increased financial aid for the debt-ridden state.

According to sources, the meeting in North Block saw Naidu underscoring various ongoing projects in Andhra Pradesh that demand immediate central support. ''The CM presented a detailed memorandum outlining the state's financial requirements and the rationale behind the demand for increased allocation,'' the sources added.

Present at the meeting were TDP ministers from the Centre. As per state government data, Andhra Pradesh's public debt has surged from 31.02% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2019-20 to 33.32% in the 2023-24 fiscal, showing a clear deterioration in the state's fiscal health over the last five years.

Among Naidu's primary demands were funds for the Polavaram irrigation project, special assistance for backward regions, and support for developing the new capital, Amaravati. He also sought the resolution of unresolved issues stemming from the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

This meeting gains added significance as it occurred just weeks before the Union Budget 2024-25 presentation. Sources noted that Sitharaman listened attentively to Naidu's concerns and assured him that she would consider Andhra Pradesh's demands within the broader fiscal constraints.

Naidu has actively highlighted the state's financial struggles, advocating for enhanced central support, including during his meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union Ministers on Thursday. The Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party remains a crucial partner of the NDA, with its 16 Lok Sabha MPs bolstering the Narendra Modi-led government.

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