– Andhra Pradesh special status issue has dented BJP-TDP alliance Goodwill

– Union Minister, behind the scenes, has been attempting to dictate the media

– TV9 is the only media house espousing the ‘Special status’ instead of ‘Special package’ 

The “Special category status to Andhra Pradesh” issue has generated much political heat in past few months in Andhra Pradesh,as well as in New Delhi.’Special category status to AP’ was one of the promises made in parliament along with Andhra Pradesh Re-orginazation bill in 2014. Then Congress prime minister Mr. Manmohan singh had given a verbal commitment of five years,while BJP had demanded for 10 years special status to Andhra Pradesh. However, post general elections, BJP had flip-flopped on the issue and is facing heat from all sections.

Realizing the political damage the issue is causing , Narendra Modi government has resorted to do damage control and deployed a team of union ministers to formulate an alternative action. An economic package to AP, in lieu of special status,is the union government’s latest resolution which has received mixed response from the people and political parties of Andhra Pradesh. An union minister, who was vociferous in support of special status when BJP was in opposition,is under line of fire from media and rival parties for his flip-flop now.

Initially the Telugu media outlets,except Modi’s trumpet EENADU group, were against the union government and supported the voice of the people in this issue. After declaration of ‘special economic package’ to Andhra pradesh, few media houses like Andhra Jyothy had softened their anti-BJP voice.These media groups are tasked to propagate ” Package is better than special status ” point to the people. It is open secret that BJP ally TDP’s bosses might have ordered their pro channels to soften their anti-BJP, anti-Union government voice in special status issue.

However, there is one channel TV9,which has been supporting “special category status to AP” movement since 2014 had not stopped making noise. TV9 channel in Telugu is conducting live debates, various other programs and primarily still stirring the ‘Special Status to AP’ cause.This is further causing uneasiness for ruling BJP-TDP alliance. In particular, above said union minister’s reputation is taking a beat via this channel’s programs.

It is reliably learnt that,now this union minister, using his clout in Information and Broadcasting ministry in Delhi, has requested officials to find loopholes (or) faults with TV9 network and,file cases against them. His secretary, whose name translates to ‘Truth’ in Telugu,is coordinating the task with I&B officials.

We need to wait and watch whether TV9 succumbs to these pressure tactics by this BJP minister (or) the minister takes back his pressure tactics.