Union Urban Development minister M Venkaiah Naidu has become a punching bag for Andhra Pradesh opposition parties in their fight for special category status for the state.

Naidu, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, has been spending most of the time in Andhra Pradesh. He loves to attend every small and big inauguration or foundation stone-laying ceremony of Andhra Pradesh government along with chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and likes to praise Naidu as only hope for Andhra Pradesh to progress on a par with developed countries.On one occasion, he crossed all the decency a season politician needs to wear on his sleeves and said Chandrababu Naidu was god-sent for Andhra People.

Now opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh blame him for the centre’s apathy and Chandrababu Naidu’s attitude towards special status. APCC president Raghuvira Reddy said Venkaiah Naidu had forgotten his role in UPA government’s acquiescence of special status during the debate of bifurcation bill.

Instead of carrying forward this during his NDA government days, he jettisoned demand to please Chandrababu Naidu, with the hope that latter would nominate him for Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh.
Venkaiah is retiring from the Upper House in June 2016. Raghuvira alleges that Venkaiah Naidu has shown more interest in the Rajya Sabha nomination lobbying than carrying forward his own demand of getting special category status accorded to Andhra Pradesh.AP Congress took a stand against Venkaiah and asked the party to burn his effigies across the state.

Similarly state CPI has also called upon the people to drive Venkaiah Naidu out of Andhra Pradesh. According to CPI secretary Ramakrishna, by taking a deceptive stand on special category state status to Andhra Pradesh, Venkaiah did more harm because his stand influenced the union cabinet against the demand. Ramakrishna asked the people not to allow Venkaiah Naidu enter Andhra Pradesh.

Opposition YSR CP is also equally angry at Venkaiah Naidu. Party’s Uravakonda MLA, Visweswar Reddy says Naidu, being a leader from Andhra Pradesh, should have worked to protect the interests of the people. But he failed in his responsibility. “People will never forget his role in NDA government denying the special status to Andhra Pradesh, and the call to boycott Naidu is justified,” Visweswar Reddy said.