Chennai, Apr 21 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said Tamil Nadu can regain its past glory only under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), asserting that development, employment generation and welfare are achievable through its governance model.
Addressing a press conference here along with Union Minister Piyush Goyal during his two-day election campaign in the state, Naidu highlighted the long-standing ties between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and recalled the latter’s historical prominence in South India.
He said Tamil Nadu, once a leading hub in the region, now faces stiff competition from cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and urged voters to support parties that focus on development.
Criticising the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Indian National Congress, he alleged that their opposition to key legislations, including the Women’s Reservation Bill, has adversely affected women and southern states.
On delimitation, Naidu said the Centre’s proposal to increase constituencies by 50 per cent, irrespective of population, would not harm southern states but instead ensure 33 per cent reservation for women.
He recalled opposing population-based delimitation during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to safeguard southern states’ interests.
Expressing concern over slowing development and migration trends in Tamil Nadu, he pointed to issues such as law and order, crimes against women and drug abuse.
He noted that central government support has contributed to infrastructure development in the state, citing projects like the modernisation of Chennai Railway Station and the proposed high-speed rail corridor linking Chennai, Bengaluru and Amaravati.
Highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s progress, Naidu said the state has attracted investments from global firms such as Google and ArcelorMittal, aided by central support and initiatives like land pooling.
He also stressed the importance of promoting mother tongue education while learning other languages for progress, clarifying that Hindi is not a national language and calling for unity amid linguistic diversity.
On inter-state water disputes, including the Cauvery issue, he suggested river interlinking projects such as connecting the Ganga and Cauvery to ensure water security, citing Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna-Godavari linking as an example.
Naidu asserted that development leads to wealth creation and welfare, and urged voters to support NDA allies in the upcoming elections.
TNT TS
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