Launching a sweeping and hard-hitting attack on the Chandrababu Naidu-led government, YSR Congress Party president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the ruling dispensation of mortgaging the state’s future for selfish interests, sabotaging crucial irrigation lifelines for Rayalaseema, indulging in massive land and industrial scams, pushing Andhra Pradesh into a debt trap, and unleashing an unprecedented regime of public burden and organised plunder. Addressing the media at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, he said the state today is witnessing a dangerous mix of secret deals, credit theft, policy paralysis, and open loot, while farmers, youth, employees, and ordinary citizens are left to suffer.
Rayalaseema Lift irrigation: “A Lifeline Betrayed”
Calling the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme an “insurance policy” for drought-hit Rayalaseema and a “Sanjeevani” not only for Rayalaseema but also for Nellore and Chennai, the YSRCP chief said no project was more vital for the region’s survival. He pointed out that although Andhra Pradesh has an allocation of about 101 TMC from Pothireddypadu, in the last 20 years water had flowed as per allocation only three or four times, while Telangana has aggressively expanded lift projects and power house operations, drawing nearly 8 TMC per day from Srisailam at levels as low as 777 to 825 feet.
He said Andhra Pradesh is unable to stop these outflows, with key power house and canal operations historically kept under Telangana’s control during Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure, causing irreparable damage to Rayalaseema’s water security. After coming to power in 2019, the YSRCP government, he said, launched the Rayalaseema Lift project to draw 3 TMC per day from the 800-foot level, spending nearly ₹1,000 crore and pushing works rapidly. He alleged that Chandrababu Naidu, fearing political credit, got cases filed through party workers to stall the project. He said after the change of government, the project again came to a halt, which he described as a “total eclipse” on Rayalaseema’s lifeline, facilitated through secret understandings.
“Father-in-law, Motherland — Both Betrayed”
In an emotionally charged remark, the YSRCP chief said Chandrababu Naidu had earlier betrayed his own father-in-law N.T. Rama Rao for power, and is now betraying the very land that gave him birth — Rayalaseema — for selfish political and personal interests.
He accused Naidu of failing to even condemn statements from the Telangana leadership against the Rayalaseema Lift project, and said this silence amounted to an official endorsement of secret deals against Andhra Pradesh’s interests.
Bhogapuram Airport: “Credit Without Contribution”
Turning to the Bhogapuram International Airport, he accused Chandrababu Naidu of indulging in desperate “credit theft” despite doing nothing substantial for the project during his earlier tenure. He recalled that earlier proposals spoke of acquiring 15,000 acres, then 5,000 acres, triggering fear and protests among locals. After coming to power, the YSRCP government, he said, redesigned the project to 2,703 acres, resolved 130 court cases, rehabilitated around 400 families, spent ₹960 crore on land acquisition, secured all central clearances and financial tie-ups, and laid the groundwork for construction, even amid COVID.
He said foundation works were launched on May 3, 2023, and a master plan including a 77-metre-wide connectivity road from Visakhapatnam to Bhogapuram was finalised with the Union government. Despite this, he alleged, the present government is now trying to claim the entire credit, even though it has failed to ensure basic road connectivity to the airport site in the last two years.
Industries: RBI Report Busts “Exodus” Propaganda
Rejecting claims that industries fled Andhra Pradesh during YSRCP rule, he cited a Reserve Bank of India report dated December 11, 2025, which placed Andhra Pradesh first in South India and fifth nationally in manufacturing sector Gross Value Added growth, and showed similar rankings in overall industrial growth during 2019–24. He alleged that the real industrial distress occurred under Chandrababu Naidu’s regime, with several major industrial groups facing fear, pressure, and exit conditions. He said no industry today can operate without paying “hafta,” calling it an institutionalised extortion system.
Land Deals and Industrial Scams: “Bonanza for Real Estate, Disaster for the State”
The YSRCP chief alleged that in the name of industrial promotion, prime government land worth thousands of crores is being handed over to favoured real estate groups without auction or transparency.
He cited the example of 14 acres in Visakhapatnam, valued at nearly ₹2,000 crore, leased for 99 years to the Lulu Group without tender or auction, while the same company paid ₹519 crore for 16 acres through auction in Ahmedabad.
He further alleged that land parcels valued at around ₹50 crore per acre are being allotted at throwaway prices to real estate groups, along with extraordinary concessions such as government reimbursement of ₹2,000 per square foot for constructed buildings, calling it an unprecedented real estate bonanza.
Debt Explosion: “Five-Year Borrowing Done in 18 Months”
Countering propaganda on state debt, he said Chandrababu Naidu had borrowed ₹2.49 lakh crore in his five-year tenure at a 22.63% annual growth rate, while the YSRCP government’s borrowing over five years was ₹3.32 lakh crore at a 13.57% growth rate, of which ₹2.74 lakh crore was directly transferred to people through welfare schemes.
He alleged that the present government has already borrowed ₹3.02 lakh crore in just 18 months, nearly 90% of what the YSRCP government borrowed in five years, without running welfare schemes and while leaving massive arrears to employees.
Public Burden: “Relentless Surcharge”
He said the people are being crushed under repeated charges and cesses, citing ₹20,135.50 crore electricity burden in 18 months, a 50% hike in registration charges, levies on drinking water in villages, and a 10% road cess on new vehicles, alongside toll collections.
Revenue Collapse and Open Plunder
He alleged that state revenues are falling because resources are being systematically looted through sand, soil, silica, quartz, liquor, ration, and gambling mafias. He claimed commissions dominate everything from mining to power purchase agreements, with bribery becoming unavoidable for any public work.
Medical Colleges: “Biggest Scam of the Decade”
Responding to media questions, he said the failure of private bidders to come forward for medical college tenders was “good news,” and reiterated that a legal battle is underway against the privatisation of government medical colleges. He said a Public Interest Litigation was filed on January 7 and admitted by the High Court.
Calling it the “biggest scam of the decade,” he questioned how handing over government-built colleges to private entities — and paying their salaries for two years — could be called anything but a scam.
“We Will Fight. We Will Finish the Rayalaseema Lift.”
Concluding, he said the Rayalaseema Lift project is not merely a regional issue but a strategic necessity for the entire state’s water security. He announced that mass movements would be launched, and asserted that once YSRCP returns to power, the lift project would be completed at war footing.
