Daijiworld Media Network - Tadepalli
Tadepalli (Andhra Pradesh), Nov 10: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of taking credit for development achievements made during the tenure of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Addressing the media at the party office in Tadepalli, YSRCP state spokesperson Putta Siva Shankar said the latest Access (In)equality Index ranking reflected development achieved under the previous government and not the work of the present coalition government.
The index, prepared by the Centre for New Economics Studies at O.P. Jindal Global University, evaluates states on parameters including education, healthcare, basic services and social security.
Shankar said Andhra Pradesh was ranked 10th in the 2021 report, which was based on data from 2014 to 2019. The state improved to third place in 2024 under Jagan Mohan Reddy's government and has now moved to second position.
He maintained that the latest ranking reflected the developmental initiatives undertaken during the YSRCP regime.
Citing various achievements, Shankar referred to the Nadu-Nedu programme for upgrading government schools, Aarogyasri healthcare scheme, establishment of new medical colleges and recruitment of more than 50,000 personnel in the health sector. He also highlighted the village secretariats, Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), village clinics, direct benefit transfers, ports and fishing harbours developed during the previous government.
The YSRCP spokesperson also criticised the coalition government over the state's financial situation, alleging that tax revenue had declined from Rs 89,435 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 86,552 crore in 2025-26, registering a fall of 3.2 per cent.
He claimed that the coalition government was borrowing an average of Rs 460 crore every day and had raised loans amounting to Rs 3,99,498 crore in 29 months.
Putting the state's per-capita debt at Rs 2,11,588, Shankar warned that it could increase to Rs 5 lakh within the next two years.
He further alleged that Andhra Pradesh's Ease of Doing Business ranking had slipped from first to eighth position and claimed that industries were moving out of the state.
Referring to unemployment figures, he said Andhra Pradesh had an unemployment rate of 21 per cent against the national average of 14.6 per cent, making it the third-highest in the country.
Shankar also accused Chandrababu Naidu of going back on his promise to waive loans of DWCRA women, alleging that the Chief Minister had cheated them by failing to fulfil his commitment.
He claimed that the previous YSRCP government under Jagan Mohan Reddy had waived outstanding dues amounting to approximately Rs 20,000 crore owed by these women.