*YSRCP slams TDP coalition for Rs 112 Crore Laptop Tender Scam*

Tadepalli, July 12: YSRCP Student Wing Working President A. Ravichandra alleged that the Andhra Pradesh Education Department has committed a Rs 112 crore scam in the procurement of laptops for government schools. He demanded that the government immediately cancel the tenders, stop the procurement process and order a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities.

Addressing the media at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, Ravichandra said the government is procuring 27,672 laptops for computer labs in 3,500 government high schools. He alleged that the contracts were awarded in a way that 70 percent of the supply would go to Shanbe and 30 percent to Celkon after relaxing tender norms to benefit private contractors.

He claimed that laptops available in the open market for Rs 45,000 to Rs 50,000 are being purchased by the government for Rs 89,000 each, resulting in an excess payment of nearly Rs 40,000 per laptop. He said this has caused a loss of about Rs 112 crore to the public exchequer.

Ravichandra said the coalition government ignored the Central Government's Make in India and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) guidelines. He pointed out that the Assam Education Department purchased laptops with similar specifications for Rs 38,501 through GeM and questioned why Andhra Pradesh is paying more than double that amount.

He alleged that tender conditions were deliberately diluted by allowing self-declarations instead of mandatory manufacturer details to benefit private companies. Ravichandra demanded that Education Minister Nara Lokesh explain the huge price difference and disclose the entire tender process. He urged the government to order a CBI probe, cancel the tenders and ensure transparent procurement of quality laptops for students. He warned that the YSRCP Student Wing would launch statewide protests if the government fails to act.