YSRCP levels wide-ranging allegations against coalition government in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Thursday accused the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government of allowing Visakhapatnam to slide into a crisis of law, public health and civic services, alleging a surge in drug activity, land transfers to corporate interests and administrative failures affecting water, healthcare and tribal education.
K.K. Raju, YSRCP Visakhapatnam district president, made the claims at a party office in the city, saying the previous Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government had worked to develop Visakhapatnam as an administrative capital and a global city but that the current coalition had deliberately weakened the city to favour Amaravati.
- Crime and drugs: Raju said Visakhapatnam has become a centre for ganja, drugs, spurious liquor and land mafia, and alleged that drug-linked violence, rave parties and deaths have been reported in localities including Kancherapalem and Aganampudi.
- Land transfers: He alleged valuable plots worth “thousands of crores” are being handed to corporate interests in the name of investment and industry.
- Tribal education: The party chief strongly condemned what he described as the midnight evacuation of around 480 tribal students from the Marikavalasa Gurukulam, claiming officials forced sleeping children to pack their belongings around 10 p.m. and frightened parents in remote tribal areas.
- Public services and health: Raju claimed drinking water scarcity, shortages of medicines and absentee doctors at King George Hospital (KGH), and alleged diversion of poor patients to private hospitals.
- Pollution: He said air pollution had reached dangerous levels because of weak monitoring of port operations and industrial emissions.
“If a Centre of Excellence is required, the government should construct a new facility instead of throwing tribal children out at night,” Raju said, according to the party statement.
Raju urged immediate action on tribal education, drinking water, public healthcare, pollution control and drug enforcement, and said the YSRCP would continue to press for what it described as protection of Visakhapatnam and North Andhra interests.
Allegations summarised
The following table summarises the main allegations made by the YSRCP district leadership in Visakhapatnam:
| Area | Allegation |
|---|---|
| Law and order | Rise in drug activity, ganja, spurious liquor, drug-linked violence in Kancherapalem and Aganampudi |
| Land policy | Transfer of valuable lands worth thousands of crores to corporate interests |
| Tribal education | Midnight evacuation of ~480 students from Marikavalasa Gurukulam |
| Healthcare | Medicine shortages, absentee doctors, diversion of poor patients from KGH to private hospitals |
| Environment | Dangerous air pollution due to weak monitoring of port and industrial operations |
The statements were presented as the YSRCP’s assessment of the situation in Visakhapatnam. The claims encompass administrative, law-and-order and service-delivery issues affecting city residents and neighbouring tribal communities.
What this means for residents
Allegations of increased availability of illicit drugs, spurious liquor and related violence, if accurate, would have direct consequences for public safety and health in the city. Challenges cited in drinking water supply, public healthcare and education would also affect everyday life for many residents, especially marginalised communities and those dependent on government-run services.
YSRCP has demanded immediate remedial steps on multiple fronts. The party said it would continue advocacy and pressure on these matters for Visakhapatnam and the broader North Andhra region.
These statements reflect the YSRCP’s position; they are allegations made in a party release and constitute political criticism of the current coalition government’s policies and administration in Visakhapatnam.
