A letter by Yanamala Ramakrishnudu to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu regarding Kakinada SEZ farmers is expected to create issues in the TDP.
Published Dec 09, 2024 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 09, 2024 | 2:41 PM
Yanamala Ramakrishnudu.
At a time when the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh is trying to corner former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the alleged irregularities in the transfer of ownership of Kakinada Special Economic Zone (SEZ) land, a party leader wrote to Chandrababu Naidu alleging injustice to farmers there.
MLC Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, in a letter to the chief minister, said that Kakinada Port Chairman KV Rao and big companies, including Divi’s Laboratories, cheated the Backwards Class (BC) farmers in Kakinada SEZ by acquiring their lands by paying cheap prices.
He also alleged that pollution caused by big companies in the SEZ is also adversely affecting the people there. Sources indicated that the letter by Yanamala, known as the most trusted leader in TDP and an aid of Naidu, would cause trouble for the party.
Yanamala alleged in the letter that KV Rao Chowdhury acquired the Kakinada SEZ lands at a low price and profited significantly. He further alleged that the land was later acquired by Aurobindo Pharma and termed the company the benami of Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Stating that the farmers lost around 10,000 acres of land due to the SEZ, he demanded justice be served to the farmers.
Yanamala asked the chief minister to order an inquiry regarding the land transactions and demanded to return the acquired land to the farmers.
In his letter, he noted the alleged injustice to BC farmers. Yanamala alleged in the letter that KV Rao Chowdhury bought the Kakinada SEZ lands cheaply and benefited hugely. He also noted that it also affected the livelihoods of Kona forest dwellers.
Yanamala’s letter subtly made a threat to the TDP government that he would mobilise the BC farmers against it if it failed to act on his demands.
He added “Chowdhary”, indicating a BC community, in KV Rao’s name which is not in the records. Apart from that, Yanamala highlighted that BC people lost land while ignoring the fact that the land in the SEZ not only belongs to the BC class but also to the SC, ST and OC castes.
He said he has already written letters to the Green Tribunal, the Central Environment Ministry and the State Pollution Control Board on this issue.
When the TDP was in power between 2014 and 2019, Yanamala was given a ministerial post by making him an MLC since he had lost the Assembly election. Following the 2019 election, when the TDP was in Opposition, Naidu nominated Yanamala for the post of Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
The political circles in the state, sensing trouble for the TDP, are busy trying to uncover the reason behind Yanamala’s rebellion even after the party chief had been considering him a priority.
Yanamala was the state’s finance minister between 2014 and 2019. At that time, farmers from the Kakinada SEZ had filed cases against him and his brother Yanamala Krishnadu, including one for allegedly attacking shrimp hatcheries and making threats. Naidu reprimanded him then.
During his tenure as the finance minister, Yanamala had helped Divi’s Laboratories by allocating lands in his constituency. However, Yanamala is now making allegations against the same company.
Sources said Yanmala sent the letter to Naidu, indicating dissent, because of the party’s decision not to field him for the election to the Rajya Sabha from the state.
As his tenure as an MLC is soon coming to an end, the party’s decision has reportedly angered Yanamala, as he would be left without any elected positions.
TDP sources indicated that he wrote the letter to Naidu intending to put the party and the chief minister in a bind.
Party sources are looking forward to the actions that the chief minister will take regarding the letter. It is to be seen whether Naidu would take the letter seriously or issue notice to Yanamala who acted against the party.
Interestingly, four members of the Yanamala family are currently holding power positions, including him. His daughter Divya is the Tuni MLA, his son-in-law Putta Mahesh Yadav is the Eluru Lok Sabha member and his brother- in-law Putta Sudhakar Yadav is Maidukuru MLA.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
