AP lost Hyderabad as joint capital due to Naidu's "Cash for Vote" scandal, says Jagan

ANAKAPALLI: Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu of being responsible for Andhra Pradesh losing its rights over Hyderabad as a joint capital. According to Jagan, this happened because of Naidu's involvement in a cash-for-vote scandal.

Speaking at a corner meeting at Kothur Junction in Chodavaram, Anakapalli district, on Monday, Jagan Mohan Reddy explained that Hyderabad was initially designated as the joint capital for both the newly formed Telangana State and the residual state of Andhra Pradesh for ten years following the state's bifurcation. However, he alleged that due to Chandrababu Naidu's actions in the cash-for-vote case, Andhra Pradesh lost its rights over the joint capital before the end of the designated period.

He warned that if people voted for the TDP, all welfare schemes that were being implemented in Andhra Pradesh would be discontinued. "If you vote for Chandrababu, the welfare schemes of the state will be 'Govinda… Govinda!'" he said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy noted that many people had trusted Chandrababu Naidu to obtain Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh, as promised in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. However, he accused Chandrababu Naidu of making political compromises in Delhi, ultimately failing to secure the special status. He also mentioned that Chandrababu Naidu could not secure a special package for Andhra Pradesh and neglected to ensure other guarantees that were promised during the state's bifurcation.

He criticised Naidu for his ambitious plan to develop a "graphical" capital city, which Jagan referred to as Chandrababu Naidu's greatest letdown. He reiterated that if the YSR Congress Party wins a second term, Visakhapatnam would become the capital of Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, Jagan pointed out that despite promising to develop a city like Hyderabad's Hitech City in every district, Naidu failed to deliver on that promise, leaving many proposals on paper.

Jagan also accused Chandrababu Naidu of cheating the public in the name of religious deities, referencing the Mahalakshmi scheme as an example. "If you vote for Jagan, all the schemes will continue. If you vote for Chandrababu, all the schemes will end," he said to an enthusiastic crowd.