Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao openly expressed displeasure on the injustice meted out to Telangana in the selection of cities for the prestigious Smart Cities Mission of government of India. Yesterday Centre announced the first list of 20 cities shortlisted for the Smart Cities Misison. KCR the very next moment, expressed displeasure, in the press conference he was addressing then.
The party and official circles see politics, rather than technical issues, as influential factor in the process of selection of cities, though union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu claimed that the selection had been done impartially.
The selection is based on the proposals submitted by the state governments. But, ultimately, it was the human involvement at the final stage, officials and TRS circles say, might have worked against the state of Telangana. While from Andhra Pradesh, two cities, Vizag and Kakinada bagged the project, none from Telangan qualified. According to sources, Telangana submitted proposals for Warangal and Karimangar. What worked in favor of Andhra Pradesh which bagged two projects, they allege, is the politics besides some other factors. According to the TRS leaders and officials, the possible reasons are:
1. Venkaiah Naidu, who is expecting Rajya Sabha nomination from Andhra Pradesh might have favored Andhra Pradesh. Naidu is retiring from Rajya Sabha in June. According to media reports he is banking on TDP for re-nomination . Of late Venkaiah Naidu is participating in every foundation stone laying ceremony of Andhra Pradesh and praising chief minister Naidu as god sent gift to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Awarding Smart Cities project to two cities from AP is seen part of his lobbying for Rajya Sabha seat.
2. Center might have approved the two cities for Smart Cities Mission to please chief minister Naidu who is demanding more funds and special packages for the successor state of Andhra Pradesh. Centre denied the special status. Centre also refused to give Bihar-like and Kashmir-like packages to Andhra Pradesh. The union government has reportedly promised funds to Chandrababu Naidu through some alternative routes, and one such alternative route is Smart Cities.
3. Chandrababu Naidu is maintaining cordial relationship with Narendra Modi government. In post-Bihar political context, centre might have thought Smart Cities project is the best way to keep Naidu in good humor.
4. Naidu is known as a able administrator. His skill of perseverance also might have worked well in AP’s favor. Naidu has an excellent team of advisors to guide the state in the matters related to IT. The team includes former GOI IT secretary J Satyanarayana. The efforts of this team might have helped the state win bag two projects.
5. Definitely, Telangana is at disadvantageous position. TRS is not an ally of BJP. Of late TRS started raising voice against Modi and NDA government at the centre. And finally, in case a city from Telangana selected, TRS might use the selection of Telangana Smart City as its achievement in the GHMC election campaign without giving credit to the NDA government and BJP.
