Special Status – Media Speculation or BJP’s Political Tactics?

A section of media has been reporting that the Central Government is considering granting Special Status for Andhra Pradesh along with states like Bihar and Odisha which have been demanding it for a long time. However, the report says that the Special Status which will be given to these states will be a bit different from the previous Special Status.

These speculations come days after Andhra Pradesh BJP President Kanna Lakshminarayana told that Special Status is a gone case and the parties talking about it now are only cheating the people. It is not clear what is running in the minds of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

Experts say that giving Special Status is mandatory for BJP to pin any hopes on AP. BJP denied Special Status to Andhra Pradesh only to rein Chandrababu Naidu but now they do not have a problem if YS Jagan Mohan Reddy does the same. BJP may grant the Special Status if it feels that it will be at advantage in Andhra Pradesh with such a move.

The only issue that will bug BJP is the resistance it will get from the other states. However, if the Special Status is granted, it will be tinkered with some conditions so that the neighboring states will not be at a disadvantage. Congress has timed Telangana for its Political Advantage and BJP is doing nothing different with the Special Status if these reports are to be anything to go by.