Andhra Pradesh issued a Covid-19 advisory on 24 May and withdrew it three days later. The government justified the move, saying the number of active cases was low. However, the withdrawal coincided with the commencement of TDP's Mahanadu in Kadapa.
Published May 29, 2025 | 12:32 PM ⚊ Updated May 29, 2025 | 12:32 PM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu addressing the Mahanadu in Kadapa. (JaiTDP/X)
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh’s Covid-19 advisory was short-lived. Three days after issuing it, the health department withdrew it, citing the low number of active cases and ‘robust’ healthcare system. However, the TDP’s Mahanadu, a grand party event, began the same day the advisory was withdrawn.
It was quick. The Andhra Pradesh Department of Health and Family Welfare issued a Covid-19 advisory and withdrew it in just three days.
The explanation given for rescinding the advisory was that the number of active Covid-19 cases in the state was low, with the government’s Covid-19 Dashboard reporting only four instances.
The advisory, issued on Saturday, 24 May, seemed comprehensive: It urged the public to exercise caution as the Covid-19 cases were rising across the country. The advisory warned against attending mass gatherings, including public events and prayer meetings, and recommended Covid-appropriate behaviour at crowded places, such as bus and train stations.
The short-lived advisory came despite relatively low case numbers in the state. National trends, however, indicated an upward trajectory in infections, with several states, including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, reporting a steady increase in daily cases.
Health Commissioner G Veerapandian justified his department’s withdrawal of the advisory on Tuesday, 27 May. He pointed at the low hospitalisation rates and minimal active caseload in Andhra Pradesh.
The official asserted that the state’s health infrastructure was remaining vigilant and well-equipped, with district health officials monitoring stocks of oxygen, RT-PCR test kits, PPE kits, N95 masks, and isolation facilities.
Several others, however, took note of an event that coincided with the withdrawal of the advisory — the ruling Telugu Desam Party’s Mahanadu – 2025, a three-day jamboree that commenced at Kadapa on 27 May.
The high-profile political gathering attracted thousands of attendees in its opening days, triggering concerns among health advocacy groups and political observers.
Praja Arogya Vedika, a public health collective, submitted a formal letter to the state government, questioning the rationale behind lifting the advisory just as a mass political event began. The group warned of a potential outbreak of the disease and argued that such large gatherings could undermine broader public health efforts.
The Vedike for strict enforcement of Covid-19 safety protocols at the event, including wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing, and making available sanitisers and thermal screening facilities.
While no direct link has been officially acknowledged between the advisory’s withdrawal and the Mahanadu event, the timing of the two developments has raised concerns about possible political considerations influencing public health decisions.
With Covid-19 cases continuing to fluctuate across India, experts have urged states to exercise caution and remain prepared, particularly when allowing large public gatherings. The full impact, if any, of the Mahanadu on Andhra Pradesh’s Covid-19 trajectory will likely become clearer in the coming days.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
