Jagan doubts fair local body elections in Andhra Pradesh

Reduction in Polavaram project height will affect water availability in Visakhapatnam, says YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. | Photo Credit: File Photo YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy alleges that the coalition government will not allow the local body elections to be conducted freely, and accuses it of using official machinery against the opposition parties.Addressing senior party leaders and key functionaries from Greater Visakhapatnam at Tadepalli on Wednesday, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy referred to the change of Mayor as an example of the coalition government’s approach towards local bodies.He also alleged that the police were being used against the party leaders and workers, and asked the cadre to record instances of police excesses in a “digital diary.”Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the party would stand by its workers and that greater importance would be given to the cadre under “Jagan 2.0” regime.He alleged that the coalition government was looting Visakhapatnam and raised issues relating to land, water supply and development. He alleged that 55 acres of land associated with GITAM University, which he claimed was worth ₹5,000 crore, had been encroached upon and given to persons favoured by the ruling establishment.Observing that Visakhapatnam was facing water shortage, he linked it to the Polavaram project. “If the project height is maintained at 45.72 metres, another 75 tmc ft of water can be stored,” he said, adding that reduction in the project’s height affected water availability in Visakhapatnam.The former Chief Minister claimed that his government had implemented 99% of its election manifesto and compared its record with that of the coalition government.In education, he referred to the Nadu-Nedu programme, English-medium education, bilingual textbooks, digital boards, tablets for students from Class VIII and TOEFL training from Class III. In healthcare, he cited the expansion of Aarogyasri coverage from 1,000 to 3,300 procedures and increase in coverage limit to ₹25 lakh. In agriculture, he cited the establishment of Rythu Bharosa Kendras and village secretariats, e-crop system, free crop insurance and use of the CM-App for procurement when farmers failed to receive remunerative prices. Published - September 23, 2026 08:06 pm IST