Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy criticised Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for indulging in outright “credit theft,” misrepresenting projects initiated earlier as his own while failing to deliver governance, welfare, and development. Addressing party leaders and cadre from Addanki constituency, YS Jagan laid out a comprehensive account of policy failures, stalled projects, rising corruption, and the erosion of public systems, while also outlining future political direction and opportunities for party workers.
Credit theft Over ArcelorMittal and Industrial Projects
YS Jagan stated that Chandrababu is falsely claiming credit for bringing the ArcelorMittal steel plant. He clarified that during his Davos visit in 2022, he personally met Aditya Mittal and reached a preliminary understanding on setting up the steel plant in Andhra Pradesh, including land allocation. He also revealed that ArcelorMittal had, at that time, agreed to invest Rs. 4,800 crore in the Greenko project in Kurnool district and had already moved forward with Essar Steel acquisition and expansion plans.
He said officials had shown land at Kakinada SEZ, Mulapeta, and Nakkapalli, and the company had selected Nakkapalli even before the elections, with 2,200 acres of APIIC land ready. He questioned why Chandrababu is not speaking about the bulk drug park project at the same location, alleging that deliberate land disputes were created to stall it.
Bulk Drug Park and Industrial Slowdown
YS Jagan pointed out that the bulk drug park project, secured in 2023 by competing with 13 states with Rs. 1,000 crore central support, has now been stalled. He said the project, which could have brought massive investments and employment, has been pushed into uncertainty due to deliberate controversies over land.
“Jagan 2.0” and Opportunities for Cadre
He described the increase in Assembly and Parliament constituencies as “good news,” stating that it will significantly increase representation for SCs, STs, and women. With Assembly seats rising from 175 to 263 and Parliament seats from 25 to 38, he said this expansion would create more opportunities for grassroots workers to emerge as leaders. He assured that in “Jagan 2.0,” party workers will be given the highest priority and full encouragement.
Addanki Political Ground Reality
Reflecting on constituency-level dynamics, YS Jagan noted that despite winning 151 seats in 2019, the party could not win Addanki. He said there is now strong anti-incumbency against the sitting minister, even greater than against Chandrababu himself. He introduced Dr. Ashok Kumar as a committed candidate ready to fight for five years alongside party workers despite adverse conditions.
“Manifesto Betrayal” and Welfare Collapse
YS Jagan accused Chandrababu of deceiving the public by promising to continue existing welfare schemes while introducing “Super Six” and “Super Seven,” only to discard the manifesto after coming to power. He pointed out that three budgets have already been presented, with only two remaining, yet none of the promised schemes have been implemented. He said all earlier welfare initiatives have been discontinued and even the new promises have turned into deception.
Debt vs Welfare: A Stark Contrast
YS Jagan highlighted that during his tenure, Rs. 3.31 lakh crore was borrowed, of which Rs. 2.73 lakh crore was directly transferred to beneficiaries through DBT with full transparency. In contrast, he said Chandrababu has already borrowed Rs. 3.37 lakh crore within less than two years, but without delivering any welfare schemes.
“Loot, Eat, Share” Governance Model
He alleged that the current administration is functioning on a “loot, eat, and share” model, with corruption across sectors including liquor, sand, soil, and minerals. He said revenues are not reaching the state treasury but are being diverted into private hands. Liquor is not being sold at MRP, belt shops are flourishing, and mafia networks are benefiting instead of the government.
Power Deals and Amaravati Cost Escalation
YS Jagan criticized the government for entering into power purchase agreements at Rs. 4.60 per unit, compared to Rs. 2.49 per unit during his tenure. He also highlighted excessive spending in Amaravati, stating that construction costs are Rs. 11,000 per square foot, whereas similar infrastructure in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad can be built at Rs. 4,000 per square foot. He alleged that valuable lands worth Rs. 5,000 crore are being handed over to close associates.
Collapse of Education and Healthcare Systems
He said governance has completely collapsed, with no fee reimbursement leading to students dropping out. He pointed out that around Rs. 10,000 crore is required for Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena including arrears, but only Rs. 2,600 crore has been allocated. Aarogyasri dues of Rs. 3,150 crore have resulted in hospitals refusing treatment.
He added that reforms like Nadu-Nedu, English medium, TOEFL training from Class 3, tablets for students, and nutrition quality have all been discontinued, leading to declining enrollments in government schools.
Agriculture in Distress
YS Jagan said farmers are facing severe distress, with no remunerative prices for crops. He cited maize MSP at Rs. 2,400 but not even fetching Rs. 1,400 in the market, and similar issues affecting cocoa, banana, bengal gram, and tomato.
Price Rise Amid War Narrative
He highlighted that even before a full-scale war, prices were sharply increased in its name. Cooking oil prices rose by Rs. 40 per litre, pulses by Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 per kg, and LPG cylinders are being sold in the black market at Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000. He said there is no support for free gas and questioned the practicality of offering kerosene when households no longer use kerosene stoves.
Ports Stalled for Political Reasons
YS Jagan stated that during his tenure, major ports saw significant progress—Ramayapatnam at 80%, Mulapeta at 30%, and Machilipatnam at 30%. He alleged that all these works have now been stalled deliberately to deny him credit, while surrounding lands are being acquired by those close to the ruling establishment.
Political Roadmap and Padayatra Plan
Looking ahead, YS Jagan said that with three years remaining before elections, he will undertake a padayatra during the last one-and-a-half years, taking the party directly to the people. He asserted that the time has come to end what he described as unjust governance and that there is no need for fear.
Conclusion
Framing the current administration as one driven by propaganda rather than performance, YS Jagan positioned his critique as both a political challenge and a governance audit, contrasting his tenure’s welfare-driven model with what he described as systemic failure, stalled development, and institutional collapse under the present government.
