Hike state share in taxes — TDP

He said that though the TDP had succeeded in persuading the previous United Front government to increase State’s share in the Central taxes from 27 to 29 per cent, the present government could not implement it as a Constitutional amendment was necessary for doing so.

"If we can secure the two per cent additional share in the Central taxes, our State’s revenue would go up by Rs 600 core," Naidu said. The TDP MPs were asked to highlight the additional financial burden imposed by the Centre on the states byeffecting hike in the administered prices and pay revision.

The chief minister indicated flexing of muscles by the TDP in winter session on certain issues concerning the powers of the state’s. He lashed out at the Centre for abrogating the states powers by including more state subjects in the concurrent list in the Constitution.

"For instance, we have opposed the Centre’s move to include tourism, which is a states subject, in the concurrent list. In fact, we have been asking for the abolition of all Central sponsored schemes so that the state would have greater flexibility in implementing them," Naidu said.

The chief minister regretted that though certain taxes like sales tax, stamps and registration and motor vehicle taxes were given to the states, there was no growth in them over several years due to the cutthroat competition among states in wooing investments.

However, Naidu was silent on the TDP’s stand on the proposed bills to be brought by the Vajpayee government during the session. He merelyasked the MPs to take appropriate decisions depending on the situation in both the Houses in tune with the party’s stand on various issues.

According to sources, Naidu gave his nod to the Women’s Reservation Bill as well as the Insurance Bill as both were in accordance with the TDP’s line. The party is expected to support the amendment to the Panchayat Raj bodies Act, enabling the states to make changes in the Act to suit their needs.

Meanwhile, Naidu has authorised TDPP leader K Yerran Naidu who left for Seattle in US to attend the ministerial conference on WTO to go along with the national consensus. As the party was not invited for the national advisory committee on WTO, it could not spell out its stand on it.

The TDP Parliamentary party (TDPP) which met later under the chairmanship of Naidu resolved to oppose the bill seeking to create smaller states including Vananchal and Uttarakhand in the Parliament. "The creation of smaller states is against our policy," TDPP spokesman C Ramachandraiah toldnewsmen later.

The TDP would register its protest against the Centre’s apathy towards the drought and cyclonic situation in the State. The AP had sought Rs 240 crore from the Centre, but nothing came out of it so far. "We are unhappy over the Centre’s response to the State. We are going to take up this issue in the session," Ramachandraiah said. The TDP MPs would also fight for getting clearance to various pending irrigation projects.

The TDPP decided to convene a meeting with MPs from all parties to take a stand on the contentious Almatti issue, which is pending before the Supreme Court.