Naidu appeals to Modi to keep Andhra Pradesh united

In a last ditch effort, Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday appealed to Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to "use his good office" to keep Andhra Pradesh united till an amicable solution is reached on the issue of creation of separate Telangana.

"I met Modi. I requested him. They (Congress) are doing all these things. These are all the violations... So you use your good office...You tell our party (to stop it)...," he told reporters.

Naidu, who is believed to be moving closer to BJP-led NDA, said he was not bothered about alliance at a time when the country is in crisis.

"I am not bothered about alliance...But first, our duty is very clear. Country is in deep trouble. This is a national crisis," the TDP chief said.

He urged all political parties to use their wisdom, protect the Constitution, protect the spirit of federalism and solve the problems.

"I am appealing to everybody. I have met leaders of all political parties...Rise to the occasion. Be statesmen. ...Otherwise (bifurcation) will be a big humiliation for Seemandhra people," the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister said.

He said the Centre was going ahead with the division process in total violation of the Constitution.

"It is also violating the Supreme Court judgement in the S R Bommai case and unilateral and arbitrary use of Article 3 of the Constitution. First you amend the Constitution. Then do the bifurcation process," Naidu said.

He said this type of situation has never arisen during the creation of any other state, he said, noting that the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh is taking place even after the state Assembly rejected the Centre's proposal in this regard.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his Parliament House office, is believed to have discussed the issue of passing the Telangana bill in Parliament.

Seeking the support of the BJP for the Telangana Bill, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh held a separate meeting with leaders including L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.