‘Land, sand mafia plundering AP’

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila has accused the land, sand, and gravel mafia of exploiting natural resources over the past five years under the YSRCP regime, resulting in a lack of development in the State.
Speaking at an election rally in Kovur on Sunday, she criticised the lack of progress during the five-year tenure of the YSRCP, highlighting the prevalence of sand, gravel, and land mafias. Sharmila lamented the alleged detrimental impact of both Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy’s ten-year rule on the state.
She emphasised the absence of significant industrial growth in AP during the YSRCP administration, attributing this shortfall to the central government’s failure to secure Special Category Status (SCS). Sharmila accused both Naidu and Jagan Reddy of neglecting the state’s interests for their own political gain by not exerting sufficient pressure for the SCS.
Sharmila launched a scathing critique of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, asserting that he does not uphold the legacy of YS Rajasekhar Reddy by failing to address the needs of the people.
“While YS Rajasekhar Reddy created numerous job opportunities by filling vacant positions, Jagan Reddy has disappointed unemployed youth by leaving 2.35 lakh vacancies unfilled,” she criticized.
Regarding agricultural policies, Sharmila accused Jagan Reddy of misleading farmers with promises of crop compensation and complete prohibition, alleging that he failed to deliver on these commitments.
She also condemned the influence of the BJP in Andhra Pradesh, claiming that despite lacking MP seats, the party indirectly controls the state. Sharmila accused both Naidu and Jagan Reddy of aligning with the BJP for their own political interests.
In her appeal to voters, the APCC president urged support for Congress candidates Koppula Raju for Nellore MP and Kiran Kumar Reddy for Kovur MLA.