NEW DELHI (TIP): Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by N Chandrababu Naidu, on March 8 pulled out of the Narendra Modi government, with two of its minister in the Union Cabinet tendering their resignations. TDP’s exit from the Narendra Modi-led central government came as a result of the Centre’s refusal to grant Andhra Pradesh a special category status.

However, a split within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre was averted for now, with the party deciding to remain in the alliance, a move many view as TDP’s attempt to keep the window for rapprochement open.

Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences Y S Chowdary, the two TDP ministers in the Modi government, met the prime minister on Thursday evening and tendered their letters of resignation. However, as of the time this report was filed, there had been no official word on whether the resignation letters were forwarded to President Ram Nath Kovind for acceptance. This has also set off speculations that backchannel talks could still be taking place to iron out differences.

The Union ministers’ resignation came after a 20-minute talk between the TDP boss and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Prime Minister Modi. Apparently, the conversation was not successful in removing the irritants plaguing the TDP’s ties with the BJP-led government at the Centre.

In a tit-for-tat response, the two BJP ministers in the Andhra Pradesh government – K Srinivasa Rao and T Manikyala Rao – also quit.

While speaking to the media after tendering his resignation letter, Raju said the TDP would continue to be part of the NDA. Chowdary, for his part, said the issue of a special-category status was very emotive for Andhra Pradesh and that the Centre had not addressed it.

He added that the special package put forth by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was not adequate.

Government sources have ruled out the possibility of any compromise on N Chandrababu Naidu’s demand for giving Andhra Pradesh a special-category status. In off-the-record briefings, BJP leaders said granting a special-category status to the state was impossible after the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission were accepted.

The party’s leadership added that doing so would also open a Pandora’s Box, with states like Punjab, Bihar and Odisha also demanding a similar treatment.