Jagan Criticises Naidu Govt Over Unfulfilled Welfare Promises, Says Andhra Homes Still in Darkness

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy sharply criticised the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on October 20, 2025, accusing it of failing to deliver on key welfare promises after 18 months in power. In a pointed social media post on X, Reddy questioned whether Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's administration had "lit up" even a single home, metaphorically referencing unfulfilled election pledges amid the Diwali festival of lights. This salvo, timed for the auspicious occasion, highlights escalating political tensions in Andhra Pradesh, where the opposition alleges a reversal of progressive schemes introduced during YSRCP's 2019-2024 tenure, fuelling debates on governance accountability as the state navigates fiscal challenges.

Reddy specifically targeted flagship promises like a Rs 3,000 monthly unemployment allowance, Rs 1,500 financial aid for women aged 19-59, and Rs 4,000 pensions starting from age 50, asserting that none have materialised despite the NDA's sweeping victory in the 2024 assembly polls. "Could you and your coalition government light up even a single lamp in the past 18 months out of the several lamps you promised to light up? Does anyone have satisfaction?" he wrote, invoking the alliance's campaign rhetoric of illuminating lives through development.

He lamented that instead of igniting new initiatives, the current regime has "extinguished the ones that were glowing brightly" under his government, pointing to disruptions in sectors like education, healthcare, agriculture, welfare, transparency, and law enforcement. This critique comes against the backdrop of Andhra Pradesh's Rs 13 lakh crore debt burden, inherited from previous administrations, which Naidu has cited as a barrier to rapid implementation, though Reddy counters that it reflects mismanagement rather than inherited fiscal prudence.

During YSRCP's rule, Reddy highlighted nearly 30 welfare schemes—such as Amma Vodi for schoolchildren and YSR Asara for women's self-help groups—that reached households via direct benefit transfers, benefiting over 1.5 crore families and boosting rural economies. In contrast, he portrayed the NDA's tenure as one of "darkness and despair", with reports of stalled projects and beneficiary complaints amplifying opposition narratives.

The post, which garnered thousands of views within hours, underscores Reddy's strategy to reclaim voter trust eroded by his party's 2024 rout, where TDP secured 135 of 175 assembly seats. As Diwali celebrations unfold, symbolising prosperity, Reddy's invocation of "lamps" serves as a poignant reminder of electoral pledges, potentially galvanising YSRCP's base in coastal and Rayalaseema regions ahead of local body polls.

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The TDP has yet to respond officially, but allies like Jana Sena Party's Pawan Kalyan have previously defended the government's focus on infrastructure, such as the Amaravati capital revival and Polavaram irrigation project acceleration, arguing these lay the foundation for sustainable welfare. Naidu's administration, formed post-2024 elections, promised a "super six" agenda including free bus travel for women and youth skill development, yet delays attributed to bureaucratic hurdles have invited scrutiny.

With Andhra Pradesh's economy projected to grow at 8% in 2025 per state budgets, the standoff risks polarising voters further, especially among women and youth demographics pivotal to both parties. Reddy's intervention may signal intensified oversight, pressuring the NDA to expedite promises or face mounting public disillusionment in a state where welfare politics dominates electoral discourse.

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