Payyavula Says Jagan Reddy Ignored Rayalaseema Development

Kurnool: Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav has challenged former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to a public debate on the development of Rayalaseema.

Keshav described Jagan Reddy as a “Palegadu” who kept the region in backwardness by not taking up any meaningful development there during his five-year tenure.

He was speaking at a public meeting in Allur, Nandikotkur, on Thursday, after the formal release of water from the HNSS Phase-1 project.

Keshav accused Jagan Reddy of creating discontent in his native Rayalaseema and completely ignoring the region’s needs. But, under the terms of the Telugu Desam, the number of pumps in the HNSS project was increased from six to 12, he said.

He dared the former chief minister to publicly debate what the YSRCP government achieved for Rayalaseema during its rule and compare it with what the present alliance government accomplished in one year.

Irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu also launched a scathing attack on the previous government, stating that major irrigation projects in Rayalaseema were grossly neglected between 2019 and 2024. Specifically, he criticised the YSRCP government for not spending even a single rupee on the crucial Handri-Neeva project during its term.

"They failed to even pay the electricity bills for the project’s motors," he remarked.

Ramanaidu said the TD-led government managed to complete the long-pending works of the HNSS project within a year, restoring hope among the people.

Local Nandikotkur MLA Jayasurya urged the chief minister to sanction a model school, a polytechnic college and upgrade the community health centre from 30 to 100 beds in the constituency.

Law minister NMD Farooq, roads and buildings minister BC Janardhan Reddy, MPs Byreddy Shabari and Bastipati Nagaraju, MLAs Jayasurya, Dastagiri, Jaya Nageswara Reddy, Shyam Babu, MLC BT Naidu, KUDA chairman Somisetty Venkateswarlu, Nandyal collector Rajakumari, and others attended the programme.