"Demonic rule in state": YSRCP chief Jagan slams CM Naidu's rule in Andhra, vows political fightback

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 20 (ANI): In a closed-door meeting with YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) public representatives from five districts, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government, calling it a "demonic era" and accusing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of dismantling democratic norms.
Addressing party representatives from Ramachandrapuram Municipality (Konaseema), Parvathipuram Municipality (Parvathipuram Manyam), Yelamanchili Mandal (Palakollu, West Godavari), Ramagiri Mandal (Raptadu, Sri Sathya Sai), and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, Jagan said the state was witnessing an unprecedented collapse of democratic values.
"We are currently living in a demonic age. Under Chandrababu Naidu's regime, morality in politics has completely collapsed. Random cases are being filed, and arrests are being made indiscriminately. But we should not fear these cases or jails. Only those who can withstand this can survive and engage in politics today," he said.
Jagan alleged that in recent local body by-elections, the TDP resorted to unethical tactics to claim victory without a majority.

"In the recent local body by-elections, TDP has stooped to new lows to claim victory even without having a majority. They are suppressing opposition and declaring positions for themselves without any democratic mandate. Within just one year, people have developed a strong resentment toward the alliance government. None of the promises made during the elections have been fulfilled. That's why people detest Chandrababu now. In the next election, he will be booted out like a football," Reddy further said.
He gave assurance that if they come to power, the party cadre will receive the highest priority.
"For the first time in the state's history, we are witnessing the creation of manufactured witnesses. A person with no connection to a crime is picked up, labelled as an 'approver,' and coerced into saying whatever they want. Based on this, someone else is arrested. This dangerous precedent has been set by Chandrababu. In Jagan 2.0, the party cadre will receive the highest priority. I see and acknowledge the struggles you're facing. Write down the names of those who have wronged you, no matter which book you use; record them. Our government will return, and we'll show them the real movie. Even if they retire or flee the country, we will bring them back," Reddy said.
"When we were in power, we never harassed anyone. Even in places like Tadipatri, where we had 16 councillors against TDP's 18, we did not resort to unethical politics. I even advised our MLA against poaching opposition members. Instead, we allowed the process to proceed by placing our MLA under house arrest to conduct the chairman election fairly.
"We introduced programs like 'Jagananna Chebudham' and 'Spandana' to address people's issues directly, irrespective of caste, religion, or political affiliation. Many of the issues we resolved belonged to TDP supporters. That was the kind of governance we provided. Today, democracy is being slaughtered in broad daylight. People are being silenced, and under such circumstances, we are compelled to continue our political journey. This is the reality of politics under Chandrababu's regime," Reddy further added.
Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused the ruling TDP government of destroying democracy in Andhra Pradesh, citing specific incidents from Tiruvuru to Palakollu. He pointed to multiple local bodies where YSRCP had a clear majority, yet TDP resorted to unethical methods to claim power.
"In Tiruvuru, out of 20 councillors, 17 belong to YSRCP and only 3 are from TDP. Yet, TDP is attempting to forcefully grab power by luring five of our members. Despite that, we still have a strength of 12, while TDP has only 8. Lacking a majority, they are still behaving unethically. To stop the election, police support is being used. Our leaders were placed under house arrest while TDP members were allowed to roam freely," Reddy said.
He further added that they are seeking police protection during the next election and said, "We've filed a house motion in court today, seeking police protection to conduct the election. But the authorities are doing everything to prevent it from taking place."
YSRCP leader Reddy alleged that TDP resorted to irregularities, intimidation, and poaching to claim victory despite losing elections, undermining democratic processes.
"YSRCP won 17 seats. A few of our members were lured away, reducing our strength to 13, while TDP has only 3. One member passed away. Even without a majority, they shamelessly declared victory. Out of 14 YSRCP wins, TDP pulled away 6. Despite that, we still hold a majority of 8 against their 6. Yet, they claimed victory without a quorum. YSRCP won 9 out of 10, while TDP got just one. Still, irregularities were observed in the chairman elections. Why do politics if democracy itself is being murdered? When even the Chief Minister himself engages in illegal practices, what message does it send? How can it be justified to poach members from a party that won democratically? Instead of safeguarding democracy, the CM is using the police to intimidate the opposition. Even though three of our members were lured, we still have a majority of six. If an election is conducted, we will win. But they are trying to bypass elections by claiming a lack of quorum and resorting to coercion," Reddu said.
"Usually, anti-incumbency begins a year or more into a government's term. But in just one year, Chandrababu's government has provoked massive public anger. People are deeply disillusioned. Why is this happening? Because before the elections, he made reckless promises, claiming not just to fulfil what I had delivered but to offer even more. None of those promises have been kept. It's been a year, and he has delivered nothing. That's why this resentment exists. During our rule, every party worker could confidently go door to door with the manifesto in hand. They could proudly ask for a tick mark against what we had delivered. We didn't do it once, but three times before elections. We treated our manifesto like the Bhagavad Gita, Quran, and Bible. No other party in India has implemented 99% of its promises like we did. Still, we are in the opposition. Why? Because just 10% of the people believed in the opposition's false propaganda and voted against us," Reddy said.
Reddy criticized the TDP government for failing to keep electoral promises, citing issues in education and welfare programs.
Neither Chandrababu nor his party workers have the courage to visit households. Wherever they go, even children will question them. What did you say during the elections? You promised bonds and cash to everyone. They went house to house, telling a child they'd get Rs 15,000, then telling the mother she'd get Rs 18,000, the grandmother Rs 48,000, and a 20-year-old youth Rs 36,000. They promised Rs 26,000 to farmers. These lies are now haunting them. A person who doesn't keep his word is today the Chief Minister. A leader who doesn't deliver on promises shouldn't hold that post. The education sector is in shambles. English medium has been removed. The 'Goru Mudda' meal program is symbolic at best. 'Nadu-Nedu' is no longer implemented. Children don't receive tablets. Under 'Amma Vodi', we provided Rs 15,000 per child annually. Today, there's no such support. The government no longer cares about healthcare for the poor. Aarogyasri has been neglected. Hospitals are refusing treatment due to pending bills worth Rs 3,600 crore. Aarogya Aasara has also been discontinued, Reddy said.
He accused the TDP government of selling off key infrastructure projects and abandoning developmental initiatives started by the previous administration.
"We established 17 medical colleges, but now they are being sold off. A district with a medical college has access to comprehensive healthcare and a multi-speciality hospital. As a result, private hospitals can no longer exploit patients. We began construction of three ports, including one at Mulapeta (Srikakulam district). Though 30% of the work has been completed, Chandrababu is attempting to sell them off for commissions. In North Andhra, we initiated the construction of a Tribal Engineering and Medical College, along with five super-speciality hospitals under the ITDA. But this man has abandoned all of them. We acquired land for the Bhogapuram International Airport and completed 30% of the work. Any development that has happened in the state took place only during the YSRCP government's tenure. Chandrababu has destroyed every institutional system. He has never honoured his word. He betrayed the people. That is why he now rules with fear and suppresses voices. He governs through a 'Red Book Constitution', silencing and crushing anyone who dares to speak out," Reddy said.
YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged widespread targeting of party workers through false cases and vowed to take action against those responsible once back in power.
He further added, "For the first time in history, we are witnessing the creation of manufactured witnesses. People with no connection to any crime are being forced to name others. These false statements are being used to arrest the innocent. Chandrababu is planting the seed for a dangerous and dishonest tradition. In every constituency, they are reopening old cases, attempting to trap our MLA candidates. Dedicated public representatives and leaders are being targeted with false cases, sparing no one. Today, as your brother and your son, I promise you, Jagan 2.0 will be completely different. I've witnessed the hardships of our cadres. I say this personally. During our previous government, two years were lost to COVID, so we couldn't support our workers as much as we wanted. But I assure you, this won't happen again. From now on, YSRCP's workers will be our number one priority. To every party worker, I urge you, whoever has wronged you or troubled you, write down their names. It doesn't matter which book you use, but make sure to record their names. Once we return to power, we'll show those who wronged you what justice means. Even if they retire or flee the country, we will bring them back. We won't spare anyone. We'll make sure they learn their lesson the hard way. If someone assaults you today, bear it. Tell them, "Your time is good now, go ahead." But remember, our time is coming--and then we will respond. The seeds they are sowing today will double tomorrow."
YSRCP leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy vowed to intensify the party's fight against the government, citing alleged harassment of party leaders and workers through false cases.
"Paleti Krishnaveni, a social media activist from Mangalagiri, was brought from Hyderabad and dragged from one police station to another. Sudharani was harassed for months, moved from station to station across Srikakulam. Bail was deliberately denied. Former MLA Vamsi is facing 11 cases. Each time he gets bail in one case, another case is filed. He's been in jail for over two months. Former MP Nandigam Suresh, a Dalit, was kept in jail for months. After getting bail, they slapped more cases on him. Even when a man came near his house and abused him, and he merely questioned it, they filed another case and jailed him again. In the coming days, we must fight with greater intensity. A year has already passed while we watched. If we continue to wait, three years will go by. But our government will return. After darkness comes light. We will surely win. That's why we must organise and fight back. Begin forming booth-level, village-level, mandal-level, and district-level committees. Then take to the streets and expose the government's failures to the people," Reddy said.
The MPs, Vice-MPs, Municipal Chairpersons, Vice Chairpersons, Councillors, MPTC members, Corporators, and key district-level party leaders all participated in the meeting. (ANI)