“It’s not how long we live that matters, but how nobly we live,” the late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), a towering figure in Andhra Pradesh’s political history, often said. True to his words, YSR’s brief yet impactful tenure as Chief Minister left an indelible mark on the state, earning him a permanent place in the hearts of its people through welfare schemes and development initiatives. His son, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, followed in his footsteps, taking governance to new heights with people-centric policies. Yet, today, under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu and his coalition government, a systematic campaign is underway to erase the names of YSR and YS Jagan from the state’s institutions, projects, and public memory, a move critics call a petty vendetta against a legacy that Naidu cannot rival.
From universities and stadiums to welfare schemes and statues, the coalition government, spearheaded by Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP), has unleashed what many describe as a “conspiracy” to obliterate YSR’s name from Andhra Pradesh. The latest in this saga unfolded on March 18, 2025, when the iconic Visakhapatnam International Cricket Stadium, named after YSR in 2009, saw his name unceremoniously stripped away under the pretext of renovations. This is just one in a long list of actions that began the moment Naidu assumed power in June 2024, revealing a deep-seated resentment toward the YSR legacy.
A Legacy Under Siege
YSR, fondly remembered as a “mahaneta” (great leader), transformed Andhra Pradesh with initiatives like Aarogyasri, a pioneering healthcare scheme, and massive infrastructure projects that uplifted millions. His son, Jagan, built on this foundation, naming universities, medical colleges, and welfare programs after his father to honor his contributions. However, since the coalition government took office following the June 4, 2024 election results, these names, and the statues bearing YSR’s likeness, have become targets of destruction.
The vendetta began even before Naidu officially assumed the Chief Minister’s office. On the evening of June 4, TDP workers stormed the Dr. YSR Health University in Vijayawada, kicking down boards bearing his name. What followed was a statewide rampage: YSR statues were torched, toppled, and defaced; plaques honoring his contributions were smashed with pickaxes; and his name was erased from government offices, universities, and public projects. From Tadigadapa Municipality to the Visakhapatnam stadium, no symbol of YSR’s legacy has been spared.
“They can’t govern like YSR or Jagan, so they resort to erasing their names,” a critic remarked, pointing to Naidu’s 15-year tenure as Chief Minister, which many argue lacks a single memorable welfare scheme to rival YSR’s achievements. Instead, Naidu’s administration is accused of reveling in “demonic glee” as it dismantles YSR’s legacy, brick by brick.
Timeline of Destruction
The coalition’s destruction has been relentless, with documented incidents spanning months:
- June 4, 2024: TDP workers in Vijayawada kicked off the assault by removing YSR’s name from the Health University’s main gate.
- June 5, 2024: A YSR statue was destroyed in Kaikaluru, Eluru district.
- June 6, 2024: In Tulluru, Guntur district, miscreants smashed a YSR statue’s head and dumped it in a canal.
- June 7, 2024: Statues were set ablaze in Rajampalli, Prakasam district, and Cheekatigalapalem, Palnadu district.
- August 11, 2024: YSR’s name was stripped from major irrigation projects like the Vedadri Lift Scheme and Veligallu Reservoir.
- March 17, 2025: Tadigadapa Municipality and YSR District (now renamed YSR Kadapa) lost their YSR titles.
- March 18, 2025: The Visakhapatnam stadium, a tribute to YSR’s contributions since 2009, joined the list of erased honors.
The list goes on, with over 30 documented instances of vandalism and name removals across districts like Krishna, Kurnool, West Godavari, and Srikakulam. Medical colleges, farmer support centers, and even a kidney research center in Palasa have seen YSR’s name scrubbed off, replaced by what critics call a “vindictive void.”
A People’s Hero vs. a Petty Rival
YSR’s admirers argue that his legacy is not confined to plaques or statues, it lives in the millions who benefited from his policies. “Chandrababu can remove names, but he can’t erase YSR from people’s hearts,” a supporter said. Jagan, too, has cemented his place with welfare and development programs that outshone Naidu’s tenure, fueling the latter’s alleged intolerance.
Naidu’s critics challenge him to match YSR’s achievements rather than indulge in what they call “small-minded vengeance.” “If he’s capable, let him do good work and name projects after himself,” they taunt, highlighting the absence of a signature Naidu initiative that resonates with the masses.
The Red Book Reign
Behind this campaign, many point to Nara Lokesh, Naidu’s son and a key TDP figure, whose so-called “Red Book Constitution” is said to guide the coalition’s actions. Since June 2024, the destruction has been systematic and unabated, with TDP and coalition workers acting as foot soldiers in a war against YSR’s memory.
As Andhra Pradesh watches this saga unfold, the question looms: Will Naidu’s efforts erase YSR’s legacy, or will they only deepen the people’s resolve to remember a leader who lived nobly, however briefly? For now, the coalition’s “destructive governance” stands in stark contrast to the welfare-driven era of YSR and Jagan, a legacy that, despite the hammer and torch, refuses to fade.
