TDP’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu lauds allocations for Andhra Pradesh in Union Budget 2025-26

TDP Floor Leader praises Union Budget 2025-26 for Andhra Pradesh, highlighting key allocations and policy adjustments.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Floor Leader in Lok Sabha Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu in his speech on the Union Budget 2025-26 praised the government for maintaining an uninterrupted parliamentary session while highlighting key allocations for Andhra Pradesh.

Expressing gratitude to the Union Finance Minister in his address to the Lok Sabha on Monday (February 10), Mr. Devarayalu welcomed the significant financial outlays for the State, which included ₹15,000 crore for Amaravati’s development, ₹12,000 crore for the Polavaram Irrigation Project, and ₹11,440 crore for Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL). He also acknowledged ₹1,750 crore allocated for the development of backward districts in the Rayalaseema region and the foundation stone being laid for the long-awaited Vizag Railway Zone.

Additionally, he emphasized favorable trade policy adjustments benefiting the State. These included the reduction of basic customs duty (BCD) on frozen fish paste (Surimi) from 30% to 5%, export duty exemption on crust leather exports, and the exemption of 36 essential medicines for cancer and chronic diseases from BCD.

The Lok Sabha member praised the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme, which received a 108% increase in outlay, bringing the budget allocation to ₹19,482.58 crore for 2025-26 across 14 sectors. He highlighted how this would generate an estimated ₹12.50 lakh crore in incremental production. He also welcomed the expansion of the zero-income tax slab to ₹12 lakh under the new tax regime, calling it a major step toward boosting consumption.

Referring to NITI Aayog’s fiscal health ranking, which placed Andhra Pradesh at 17th, Mr. Devarayalu underscored the need for a balanced approach between welfarism and wealth creation. He reiterated TDP Chief N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of prosperity-driven governance over a purely welfare-oriented model.

On railways, he noted that Andhra Pradesh received ₹9,417 crore, marking an 11-fold increase over previous budgets. An additional ₹240 crore was allocated for the construction of roads and bridges. In the area of rural development, he suggested including handloom weavers under MGNREGA with 100 days of guaranteed employment at ₹250-₹300 daily wages, along with cooperative support for raw materials and marketing.

Addressing concerns in the agriculture sector, the MP urged an increase in PM-KISAN financial support, indexed to inflation, and called for the recognition of tenant farmers under key agricultural schemes. He also requested price support for chilli farmers under PM-AASHA through NAFED and AP MARKFED.