Naidu for more powers to States

LONDON, JAN. 31. States in India should have much greater devolution of financial power and revenue as well as legislative power, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, has said.

``There are always so many programmes we cannot get done because of Delhi (Central Government),'' Mr. Naidu told The Financial Times in an interview published today.

``It is my firm belief that we should have much greater devolution of financial power and revenue as well as legislative power. Today in India, all States are (involved) in different experiments - we are competing with each other,'' he said.

The Chief Minister emerged from last October's polls with his Telugu Desam Party tripled its strength in the Lok Sabha winning 29 seats in Andhra Pradesh, making it the second largest unit in the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's 25-party coalition - and the only party that can rob the government of its 23-seat majority.

Mr. Naidu chose to keep the TDP outside the Union Cabinet.

According to the report, critics harp on the Chief Minister's known quirks, such as the video-conferences he holds just after dawn with Ministers and officials.

A little over two years ago, the World Bank decided to concentrate its Indian lending in Andhra Pradesh - up to $ three billions over the next decade - banking on the so-called demonstration effect and on Mr. Naidu to lead the way in reforming the crippled power sector.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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