*No courage to face opposition, Chandrababu resorts to smear campaign: Ambati*

Ongole, April 20: Former minister Ambati Rambabu stated that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu lacks the courage to politically confront the opposition and is resorting to character assassination, false cases, and propaganda through supportive media. Speaking to the media in Ongole, he criticized the government for spreading misinformation against the MAVIGUN proposal, stating that just as false narratives were earlier created around the Tirupati laddu issue, similar tactics are now being used to discredit a viable alternative capital model. He questioned the logic of spending lakhs of crores on Amaravati, a project with no clear timeline for completion, while ignoring the option of developing an existing city with lower costs and faster outcomes, and accused the government of inflating construction costs to benefit select contractors.
Ambati further said that the government is prioritizing Amaravati at the expense of the entire state, pushing massive proposals worth Rs. 75,000 crore despite financial constraints, while welfare schemes like Aarogyasri and fee reimbursement are being neglected. He said Amaravati has become a vehicle for financial exploitation rather than development, adding that Chandrababu’s experience lies in retaining power and enabling profiteering rather than building the state. He also criticized what he termed as a lack of moral integrity, pointing to political inconsistencies, alliances, and decisions affecting key projects like the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation scheme. On the occasion of Chandrababu’s birthday, Ambati advised him to reconsider his approach towards Amaravati and focus on practical, people-centric governance, asserting that public dissatisfaction is growing and that YSRCP would secure strong support if elections are held.