In a sharp critique of opposition leaders Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Pothina Mahesh lambasted their inability to deliver on promises made to the people and highlighted Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s welfare-centric governance.
Mahesh questioned the opposition’s claims, particularly Pawan Kalyan’s earlier assertion that he would take responsibility for implementing the “Super Six” promises. “Today, Pawan has raised his hands, admitting that the promises cannot be fulfilled. Isn’t this blatant deception of the people?” he asked. He further challenged Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan to respond to this betrayal.
Welfare Initiatives vs Tax Burdens
Contrasting Jagan’s governance with Chandrababu’s previous administration, Mahesh accused the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of imposing burdens on the public through welfare cuts and heavy taxes. He cited the increase in registration charges and hefty penalties for traffic violations, including a ₹1,135 fine for not wearing helmets. “Is collecting penalties and hiking charges the definition of wealth creation?” he questioned.
Mahesh credited Jagan for successfully implementing welfare schemes, stating, “While Jagan has hit a century in welfare implementation, Chandrababu and Pawan have been dismissed for zero.” He also dismissed the opposition’s criticism as baseless, saying, “Chandrababu and Pawan need to take tuition from Jagan to learn about governance.”
Lackluster Performance in Attracting Investments
Taking a jibe at Naidu’s claims of industrial development, Mahesh pointed out the poor outcomes of his visits to Davos. “Industrialists fled after seeing Chandrababu at Davos, and not a single Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during his tenure. In contrast, Telangana Chief Minister KCR secured MoUs worth ₹1.78 lakh crore,” he said. Mahesh added that major projects like Kurnool Greenko came to Andhra Pradesh only during Jagan’s tenure. He also mocked Naidu’s claims of building Hyderabad, pointing out that the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Shamshabad Airport were achievements of late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
Amaravati and Infrastructure Development
Refuting Naidu’s claims about Amaravati, Mahesh said Jagan’s government has focused on real development, such as building the Tirupati-style temple, outer ring roads, and the Vijayawada West Bypass. He accused Naidu of prioritizing policies that benefited corporate investors over the middle and lower classes.
“While Naidu reduced registration charges for investors, he hiked them for common people, making land ownership unaffordable for the poor and middle class,” Mahesh said.
Polavaram and Uddanam
Mahesh also highlighted Jagan’s focus on resolving long-standing issues. “The Polavaram project would have been completed if central funds had not been diverted during Chandrababu’s regime,” he said, accusing Naidu of hindering progress and engaging in baseless blame games. He credited Jagan with providing a permanent solution to the Uddanam kidney disease issue, focusing on the problem rather than the region.
In conclusion, Mahesh stated that Jagan Mohan Reddy’s governance has brought tangible benefits to the people, particularly the poor and women, while the opposition continues to mislead with hollow promises and failed initiatives.
