No similarity between Jagan and YSR, claims Andhra Pradesh Congres chief YS Sharmila

“Jagan is not the successor of YSR at all. There is no similarity between the rule of YSR and Jagan… even if you search with a magnifying glass, no trace will be found. Jagan’s reign has murderous politics,” Sharmila alleged during her campaign in Mydukuru in the Kadapa district.

Also Read: Jagan doubles down on support to Avinash Reddy as two sisters invoke a murder

‘Shielding the killers’

She alleged the YSRCP government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy is shielding their uncle YS Vivekananda Reddy’s killers and said YS Avinash Reddy is being protected.

Vivekananda Reddy, former Kadapa MP and younger brother of Rajasekhara Reddy was murdered on 15 March, 2019, in the run-up to the polls and the case continues to be unresolved.

Noting that Avinash Reddy, her cousin, an accused in the case and also the YSRCP candidate from Kadapa, should not be allowed to go to Parliament, Sharmila said she is contesting from the same constituency to fight injustice.

Further, she observed farmers had suffered immensely under the YSRCP government and alleged Jagan Mohan Reddy cheated them.

Shamila claimed that farmers were like kings during her father’s tenure as CM.

She pointed out that Jagan Mohan Reddy had promised prohibition but the present YSRCP government is retailing liquor at exorbitant prices.

According to Sharmila, there is no accountability in liquor sales in the state.

Also Read: Modi likens Congress manifesto to that of Muslim League’s

The special category status

The Opposition party said it has reiterated the promise of special category status for the state in its Lok Sabha polls manifesto.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the promise for Special Category Status (SCS) was made during the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, by none other than Manmohan Singh himself, who committed to it on the floor of the Rajya Sabha in February 2014.

“As a state with Special Category Status, Andhra Pradesh would receive benefits such as special central assistance grants, better financing terms for externally aided projects, excise duty concessions, and tax breaks to help attract investment. After the loss of Hyderabad, these provisions could have helped lay the foundations for the state’s continued prosperity – but the Modi Sarkar betrayed the people of the state for ten years,” he said in a post on X.

The Congress Party is determined to right this wrong, and help secure Andhra Pradesh’s economic future, Ramesh said.

“Each and every party has failed the people of Andhra Pradesh on this matter: When Dr. Singh committed to SCS for 5 years, then BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu had retorted, ‘Why only 5 years? BJP government will give for 10 years.” Mr. Naidu fully failed to follow through on this jumla in his three years as Union Minister. PM Modi too made similar promises before the 2014 election — he has since reneged on this promise,” the Congress leader said.

In 2018, the TDP left the NDA to protest the BJP’s inaction on this demand and now it’s “cravenly fallen back into the BJP’s embrace, despite the party staying silent on the matter,” Ramesh said.

The #CongressNyayPatra once again reiterates the promise of Special Category Status (SCS) for the state of Andhra Pradesh. This was a promise made during the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, by none other than Dr. Manmohan Singh himself, who committed to it… pic.twitter.com/YhntWKJyOc

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 8, 2024

“Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy began his tenure in 2019 by declaring that there is ‘very little we can do’ and we are ‘at somebody’s mercy’ for securing SCS. Having admitted to his own ineffectuality at the outset, he has made absolutely zero progress on securing SCS for the state. Only the Congress can secure justice for Andhra Pradesh!” Ramesh asserted.

Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls on 13 May and counting of votes is slated for 4 June.

(With PTI inputs)