NEW DELHI: Amid shrill protests from Andhra Pradesh outfits seeking special category status for the state, a key parliamentary panel headed by Congress has taken up the issue for examination, and has summoned the Centre and the state for questioning — a move that may embarrass the ruling BJP in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said the standing committee on home affairs has started to take stock of “bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh” and the fulfilment of promises made during the state’s division.

It is learnt the panel recently called central officers for questioning. It has now summoned officers of Andhra Pradesh and the Centre for examination on July 27.

“We are calling all stakeholders,” an MP on the panel said. The promises made to Andhra Pradesh were many. According to the state and a section of the political class, they include ‘special category status’.

TDP broke its alliance with BJP in March, accusing the Modi government of not fulfilling the promise of granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Since then, TDP president and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu has kept up a steady attack on BJP and even brought a no-confidence motion in Parliament.

TDP’s arch rival YSR Congress of Jaganmohan Reddy too is protesting on the issue and recently got its MPs to resign from Lok Sabha to convey its intent.

The decision of the parliamentary panel headed by Congress veteran P Chidambaram to take up Andhra Pradesh’s bifurcation for discussion threatens to keep the issue on the front burner to the discomfort of BJP.

The key promises of the Centre to be examined are the construction of a new capital, Polavaram project and special category status among others.

While the Centre has repeatedly maintained that special category was not a commitment made to the state, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have argued that it was indeed a promise made at the time of division of the state.

