New Delhi:Despite the fact that there was little bargaining power on their side as the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre enjoys a complete majority on its own, Chief Minister-designate of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the new State government under his leadership would make repeated and continuous requests to the Centre to grant the Special Status.

Jagan called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah on Sunday for the first-time after he stormed into power in the State with an emphatic win. In an hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister, Jagan made a passionate case for Special Status by presenting to him the dismal state of economy and finances in the State after the bifurcation.

Speaking to press persons after the two meetings, Jagan described his meeting with Modi as “healthy and positive”. “I sense that he (Modi) has a genuine desire to help the State of Andhra Pradesh, and he is aware of the situation in the State,” he added.

When asked how he could ensure that the State actually got Special Status given the NDA stands on its own at the Centre, he said, “It is true that they are in the position of strength. Our support to them in the government is redundant. So we have no option but to keep persisting about our demand until the Centre yields to our request. I am sure our demand will become a reality someday.”

He said he was actually praying in heart of hearts that the NDA’s tally should not be more than 250 in the Lok Sabha so that the support of YSRCP would make a real difference. “Sadly, they have an overwhelming mandate so as we (the YSRCP) secured in the State,” he observed.

On the issue of 14th Finance Commission recommendations to the Centre about the Special Status, he pointed out that the Finance Commission had only made a suggestion about bridging the revenue deficit if any State fell into and had said nothing about Special Status. “It never recommended anything like abolishing the special statuses given to states. It is not in their purview,” he clarified.

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