Tadepalli (Andhra Pradesh), India, July 21: YSRCP leader Potina Mahesh accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of indulging in corruption and irregularities throughout his political career, a statement said.
Mahesh stated that Naidu's tenure has been marked by "systemic exploitation", from the "infamous" Yeleru scam to the recent land acquisitions in the state capital, asserting that "no sphere of governance under Naidu has remained untouched" by corrupt practices.
During his 2014-19 tenure and Naidu "monopolised" the liquor trade, overseeing the establishment of 4,380 liquor shops, an equal number of permit rooms, and 45,000 belt shops. Naidu enabled "unchecked liquor brand proliferation and extracted hefty commissions, institutionalising the liquor mafia," the YSRCP alleged in its statement.
It noted that, in contrast, former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy implemented a transparent liquor policy that curbed such excesses, which "provoked Naidu and his allies to unleash a vicious campaign against YS Jagan."
"The TDP's baseless propaganda even falsely claimed that liquor under YS Jagan's regime was toxic, a lie debunked by the Chennai-based NGS laboratory," Mahesh stated, emphasizing the YSRCP's commitment to accountability.
The statement further added that Naidu is granting licenses to 14 distilleries while YS Jagan's administration issued none, and questioned Naidu's covert cancellation of privilege fees without cabinet approval, which "deprived the state of significant revenue." He also pointed to the TDP's failed attempt to malign Jagan's liquor policy through a complaint to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which found no evidence of irregularities.
As per the statement, Mahesh challenged Naidu to an open debate on these issues, asserting, "We are ready to expose the truth behind Naidu's scams, including the allocation of 50% of liquor orders to just five distilleries, which reeks of corruption."
Mahesh also referenced Naidu's "involvement" in the IMG Bharat land scam, where thousands of crores worth of land were illicitly allocated, underscoring Naidu's role as the "mastermind behind such schemes." The Eenadu media house, aligned with Naidu for spreading false narratives to protect its financial empire and discredit YS Jagan's governance, the statement alleged.
Mahesh urged citizens to recognize Naidu's pattern of "deceit and corruption," contrasting it with YS Jagan's people-centric policies. "Naidu's desperation to cling to power has led to relentless conspiracies, but the truth will prevail," he declared, calling for accountability and transparency in governance.