Jagan seeks Modi nod for 3D capital

New Delhi: Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after three failed attempts, AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday presented the former with a long list of demands ranging from Special Category Status to fund release to seeking his intervention in shifting the High Court to Kurnool as planned by him. He is said to have invited the Prime Minister to attend the programme to distribute 5 lakh house pattas on March 25.

But sources revealed that the most important job on Jagan's hand was seeking the PM's approval for his 3-D (directional) capitals, the Legislative, Administrative and Legal instead of one integrated capital. This was necessary because of the resistance being presented by both the TDP and the new ally of the BJP, Jana Sena. It was necessary to do so because he planned to decentralize development, he is stated to have explained to the PM.

It is said that Jagan 'explained the reasons" for shifting the capital from Amaravati in three different directions all the while assuring the PM of his party's full support in Parliament and outside.

However, Jagan was said to have been careful in not referring to the Delhi election debacle of the BJP even as he extended support to the CAA and NPR, etc, subtly.

Being the first CM to have met Modi soon after the Delhi drubbing, Jagan used the opportunity of the long meeting with the PM to raise his concerns and apprehensions to seek the latter's cooperation.

Referring to the Disha Act proposed by AP, he is said to have urged him to get it approved by the Union Home Ministry. Among the list of explanations, he had, Jagan referred to the move to abolish the Legislative Council too citing the opposition of the TDP to key developmental Bills. On the promised Bundelkhand Package to the backward regions of the state promised in the AP Reorganization Act, he asked for full release of funds. On Polavaram and pending releases from grants, he just reiterated his demands for full fund release while promising to complete the former by the end of 2021.

However, speculation is rife that there is more politics to the visit than just a routine meet as the BJP top leadership is said to have started introspection over the Centre-State relations a bit more seriously now. Whether Jagan could extract any mileage out of this changed position or outlook is to be seen. But the very fact that he has been granted an audience after a long time is itself a pointer.