*Piduguralla Medical College is Y.S. Jagan’s achievement, 90% Work Completed Under YSRCP*

Narasaraopet, March 27: Former MLA K. Mahesh Reddy asserted that the credit for establishing the Piduguralla Medical College entirely belongs to Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSR Congress Party government, stating that Rs.217 crore was spent and 90% of the construction was completed during their tenure. Speaking to the media at his residence in Narasaraopet, he said the college would have been inaugurated by June 2024 itself if YSRCP had returned to power, bringing quality healthcare services to the region. He recalled that within two months of coming to power in 2019, YSRCP allocated Rs.200 crore in its first budget for a medical college in Palnadu, acquired 50 acres of land, and began construction soon after the COVID crisis.

Mahesh Reddy challenged coalition leaders to an open debate on the construction and questioned their claims of credit, calling it shameful. He pointed out that leaders who once mocked government medical colleges are now claiming ownership of the same project. He stated that only due to strong public resistance led by YSRCP against attempts to privatize medical colleges, the coalition government was forced to proceed with the nearly completed Piduguralla Medical College after two years of neglect. He demanded that if Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is genuinely committed to public health, all medical colleges must be completed and operated under the government sector.

He highlighted that under YSRCP, 17 new medical colleges were sanctioned across the state to ensure equitable access to quality education and healthcare in backward regions, with 7 colleges completed and admissions started in 5 before the government demitted office. In contrast, he criticised that the coalition government halting construction works and attempting to privatize colleges under the PPP model, which failed as no private entities came forward due to strong opposition and warnings from YSRCP that such tenders would be cancelled once they return to power.

Mahesh Reddy further stated that the coalition government was compelled to continue the Piduguralla Medical College project only because the central government did not agree to its privatization and no private players showed interest. He said the decision to inaugurate the nearly completed college was driven by compulsion, not concern for people’s welfare. He also criticized Chandrababu Naidu, stating that despite serving multiple terms as Chief Minister, he has not established a single government medical college or hospital.

He emphasized that during the YSRCP regime, the medical college was constructed on 50 acres along the national highway, with buildings completed and advanced medical equipment installed. Approval for a nursing college was also secured, and its infrastructure was completed. By the time the coalition government assumed power in June 2024, Rs.217 crore had already been spent on the project. He added that the two-year delay in operationalizing the college has triggered strong public resentment against the coalition government and local MLAs, and claimed that the government has now moved to inaugurate the college under compulsion, fearing public backlash and electoral consequences.