We don't need YSRC support: Venkaiah

VISAKHAPATNAM: The BJP has declared that it would not require the support of any political party like YSR Congress to form the government at the Centre as it would get a decisive majority in the ensuing elections.

BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu made it clear that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would get clear majority to form the government and it would not seek the support of the YSRC.

He was responding to a statement by YSRC chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy that any government to be formed at the Centre would require the YSRC support.

''If people give at least 20 seats for the YSRC in the general elections, we can demand and command for obtaining adequate funds and necessary support for the development of Andhra Pradesh,'' Jagan said during the roadshows at various places on Saturday.

Addressing the media here on Sunday, Venkaiah Naidu refused to take the blame for the state bifurcation and refuted the allegations by the YSRC that Congress, Telugu Desam and the BJP had colluded to bifurcate the state.

''We have been very clear about the Telangana issue. Our party policy is for smaller states and hence, we supported creation of Telangana state.

But we were also clear about the importance of development in Seemandhra region after bifurcation for which I fought with the Centre to get all those financial and other aid included in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act,'' he said and added that people know the truth and they know whom to vote.

The senior leader chose to blame the Congress and former chief minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy for supporting the state division and making a U-turn later.

'I would want the YSRC and the Congress leaders to answer these questions. Why did Congress had an alliance with TRS during 2004 polls and made them part of the government at the Centre and the state?

Isn't it Rajasekhara Reddy who sent 41 MLAs of the Congress to the then NDA government seeking the division of the state? Why did Rajasekhara Reddy made an announcement in the Assembly in favour of the Telangana state formation?

Didn't the YSRC tell the Central government to divide the state by invoking the Article 3?' he questioned.

Revealing the party's plans for Vizag city, Venkaiah Naidu promised to develop the city into a smart city, if BJP is voted to power.

Further, educated people like K Haribabu, the BJP candidate for the Vizag Lok Sabha constituency, can develop the city in a better way, said Venkaiah Naidu.

He rubbished the speculation over the sentiment-based politics and said that development was the new mantra. Narendra Modi is the only leader to attract the masses in a large number.