Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday met Governor Surjit Singh Barnala to recommend dissolution of the state legislative assembly.

One-and-a-half hours after the state Cabinet adopted a resolution recommending dissolution of the House, Naidu drove down to the Raj Bhavan to call on the governor.

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"In view of the grave threat posed to the development of the state by extremism, the council of ministers hereby resolves to recommend to the Governor of Andhra Pradesh to dissolve the Legislative Assembly under Article 174 (2) (b) of the Constitution of India so as to enable early elections to be held and the people's will to be asserted," said the resolution.

The resolution gave a detailed account of the steps taken by the Telugu Desam Party government for the overall development of the state and explained the reasons that compelled it to seek the dissolution of the House.

"Against this backdrop of economic progress and all-round development, the state has to contend with the mounting problems of extremism and a highly negative opposition. Extremism is adversely affecting investments into the state and negating the efforts of the government to create opportunities for employment and a better life for the people of Andhra Pradesh," the resolution said.

"The recent attack on the chief minister reflects the sense of growing desperation among the extremists at losing their ideological fig leaf of social and economic exploitation," it added.

The resolution also criticised the opposition and accused it of overtly encouraging extremism. "The opposition on its part has been playing an extremely opportunistic role by failing to take a clear stand on the issue of extremism. By urging the government to hold talks with elements who have no respect for or faith in democracy, the opposition has been overtly encouraging extremism," the resolution alleged, while making it clear that no development is possible if the state is held hostage to extremist violence.

"We believe that the time has come to tackle extremism head on. If the state has to realise its true potential and achieve its true destiny of greatness, it has to counter terrorism with courage and fortitude. We have no time to lose. Unless the issue of extremism is made the central issue of our time, and countered effectively and decisively, the state cannot move to a higher trajectory of growth and development. It is for this reason that despite commanding the complete confidence, trust and support of the people of Andhra Pradesh, the present government feels it necessary to go to the public on the issue of extremism," it said.

"It is important that a clear message is delivered by the people of this state, rejecting extremism and violence. Unless the people of the state unite and courageously express themselves individually and collectively against the politics and extremism and violence, the future of the state will be in peril. The Telugu Desam government is willing to sacrifice its remaining term in office in order to discharge its responsibility to the people of the state by seeking a mandate from them rejecting extremism in the most clear and categorical manner," the resolution said.