Tadepalli, May 7: Former Minister Jogi Ramesh strongly criticised the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government, stating that repeated Collectors’ Conferences are producing speeches, not solutions, while farmers continue to suffer without relief. Addressing the media in Tadepalli, he said farmers are desperately pleading for paddy procurement, but the government has failed to provide even basic support such as gunny bags, transport facilities, and timely purchases, leaving paddy stranded on roads. He demanded immediate procurement of grain lying in markets and villages and prompt payment to farmers instead of “endless review meetings and empty lectures.”
Jogi Ramesh said farmers cultivating maize, tobacco, chilli, cotton, and mango are facing severe distress due to the absence of MSP and government intervention. He questioned whether the state has a functioning Chief Minister at all, as farmers struggle amid unseasonal rains and crop losses while ministers remain busy with foreign tours. He criticised the absence of the Agriculture Minister and said the coalition government has completely abandoned the farming sector.
Countering Chandrababu Naidu’s remarks on state finances, he said debt had sharply increased during the 2014–19 TDP regime itself. He noted that under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government, Rs.2.74 lakh crore was directly transferred to beneficiaries through DBT schemes and another Rs.1.40 lakh crore through non-DBT welfare programmes, ensuring support to farmers, women, and students. In contrast, he said, the present government is borrowing heavily without delivering visible benefits to the people.
He further stated that key welfare schemes such as fee reimbursement, Aarogyasri, and support for DWCRA women have been weakened, while the “Super Six” promises have completely failed. Promised unemployment allowance, Rs.1,500 monthly support for women, and Rs.4,000 pensions remain unfulfilled, while even existing pensions are being removed. He also criticised the government over privatisation of public assets and alleged large-scale exploitation in sand, soil, bars, and liquor businesses by coalition leaders.
Highlighting projects initiated during the YSRCP government, Jogi Ramesh said ports, medical colleges, harbours, the Vijayawada West Bypass, and Machilipatnam Port were all taken up under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership, while the present government is merely claiming credit for them. He reiterated that YSRCP will continue to stand firmly with farmers, women, and students, demanded MSP for mango farmers and compensation for those affected by unseasonal rains, and criticised Chandrababu Naidu for using AI-driven publicity and propaganda to mislead the public.
*Coalition gagging voice of dissent*
