Amaravati: The opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has strongly criticized Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP-led alliance government, accusing them of misleading the public with false claims about Andhra Pradesh’s debt burden. The controversy erupted after Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, in response to a question in the Assembly, revealed the actual figures related to the state’s borrowings.
What Are the Real Numbers?
According to the Finance Minister’s official statement in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, the state’s debt:
- Increased from ₹2.57 lakh crore in 2019 to ₹4.91 lakh crore by 2024 under the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
- This contradicts the ₹10 lakh crore debt claim made by TDP leaders during the election campaign and in public speeches.
YSRCP Demands Apology from Chandrababu Naidu
Reacting sharply to this revelation, YSRCP leaders slammed Chandrababu Naidu for spreading misinformation. “You falsely claimed that Andhra Pradesh’s debt had crossed ₹10 lakh crore. Now that your own Finance Minister has exposed the truth, will you apologize to the people of Andhra Pradesh?” questioned YSRCP.
TDP’s Narrative Falls Apart
During the election campaign, the TDP-BJP-JSP alliance had aggressively accused the previous YSRCP government of excessive borrowing and financial mismanagement. However, the actual figures presented in the Assembly tell a different story. The YSRCP argues that these numbers prove Naidu’s propaganda was baseless and designed to mislead voters.
Political Fallout
With this revelation, YSRCP is likely to intensify its attack on the ruling TDP government. The issue has already sparked a debate on economic transparency and political accountability, as the ruling coalition now faces questions over its credibility.
