Minister Kollu Ravindra launches attack on YSRCP

Ravindra alleged that although the prestigious AIIMS Mangalagiri was brought to Andhra Pradesh during Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure, the previous YSRCP government failed to provide even basic facilities

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Minister Kollu Ravindra launched a scathing attack on the opposition Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and YSR Congress Party leaders, accusing the previous government of anarchy, institutional destruction, and economic mismanagement during its five-year tenure.

Addressing a press conference at the Telugu Desam Party central office in Mangalagiri on Sunday, Ravindra alleged that YSRCP leaders, who suppressed people and destroyed systems while in power, were now attempting to preach morality. He said the public was no longer willing to believe contradictory political narratives of the previous regime.

Focusing on the healthcare sector, the minister dismissed claims made by YSRCP leaders regarding the establishment of medical colleges in the state. He said the foundation for government medical education in Andhra Pradesh was laid during the era of N. T. Rama Rao, while Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had played a key role in expanding medical infrastructure in the undivided state.

Ravindra alleged that although the prestigious AIIMS Mangalagiri was brought to Andhra Pradesh during Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure, the previous YSRCP government failed to provide even basic facilities, including drinking water, for several years. He claimed that the present coalition government resolved the issue immediately after assuming office by ensuring Krishna water supply to the institution.

The minister also defended the government’s decision to adopt the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in the healthcare sector. He stated that the coalition government aims to make 2,500 MBBS seats available within two years through PPP projects and assured that 70 percent of beds in PPP hospitals would be reserved for beneficiaries of NTR Vaidya Seva and Ayushman Bharat schemes to provide free treatment to the poor.

Turning to education, Ravindra accused the previous government of severely damaging the state’s academic standards. Citing educational performance data, he claimed Andhra Pradesh slipped from third place in education rankings during 2014–19 to 19th place during the YSRCP regime. He alleged that no DSC recruitment examinations were conducted in five years and that thousands of schools were shut down, adversely affecting rural students.

He credited Education Minister Nara Lokesh for improving the Class 10 pass percentage from 62 percent to 85 percent after the coalition government came to power. He also highlighted the recruitment of 16,000 teachers and referred to ASER reports to claim that learning outcomes had deteriorated significantly under the previous administration.

Ravindra further accused the YSRCP government of mortgaging public assets and misusing state resources. He alleged that ports including Gangavaram, Kakinada, and Krishnapatnam were handed over to private entities and that several government properties in Visakhapatnam were pledged for loans.