In a pointed critique that resonates across Andhra Pradesh’s villages, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, ex-CM and YSRCP president, warned Tuesday that the TDP-led government’s policies are systematically dismantling rural economic lifelines. The decline, he said, is most evident in the faltering MGNREGA program, a cornerstone for millions in the countryside.
Drawing on official Ministry of Rural Development figures posted on X, Reddy detailed a two-year slide: fewer approved work days, reduced household participation, and slashed spending. Andhra Pradesh, previously a top performer, now lags embarrassingly, undermining the scheme’s promise of 100 days of wage employment to fortify rural incomes and stimulate local commerce.
The ripple effects are stark—stagnant GST and sales tax revenues reflect diminished buying capacity and market vitality, hallmarks of rural distress. Reddy demanded immediate government action to reinvigorate these programs, warning that neglect risks long-term stagnation.
Accusing the Naidu coalition of corruption fixation over public service, Reddy highlighted how avarice diverts focus from pressing needs. His words carry weight as he launches a three-day Pulivendula visit from Tuesday afternoon. Kicking off with a Praja Darbar at 4 PM in Bhakarapuram, he’ll listen to locals’ plights and stay overnight.
Day two features a condolence visit to the family of departed YSRCP leader Sudhakar Reddy in Ippatla, followed by another public forum. Wrapping up Thursday, the tour reaffirms Reddy’s pledge to champion rural revival, contrasting sharply with the coalition’s alleged mismanagement and setting the stage for intensified political scrutiny.
